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Albert Woodfox was released from a Louisiana prison Friday afternoon after spending 43 years in solitary confinement.
Albert Woodfox, 69, pleaded no contest to manslaughter and aggravated burglary Friday. The judge then ordered Woodfox’s immediate release.
It appears Woodfox will be released as early as Friday afternoon.
Brent Miller, a guard at the Louisiana State Penitentiary in Angola, was killed in 1972.
Albert Woodfox and two other men became known as the “Angola Three” for their decades-long stays in isolation at the Louisiana Penitentiary at Angola and other state prisons. Prison officials said they were kept in solitary because their Black Panther Party activism would otherwise rile up inmates.
Albert Woodfox consistently maintained his innocence in the killing of Miller. He was awaiting a third trial in the case. Woodfox turned 69 on Friday.
One of his lawyers, Katherine Kimpel, did not go into specifics about Woodfox’s health but said one of his most pressing needs would be to get medical attention.
She cited his long time in solitary confinement and the level of medical care he got in prison.
She pointed out that Herman Wallace, another member of the Angola Three, died shortly after he was released from prison.
Kimpel said she expects Woodfox to become an advocate against solitary confinement in his freedom.
Agencies/Canadajournal
