He may be serving life in prison for a gruesome murder, but William Danny Mason's attorney is asking for his client to get special treatment behind bars.
His new Trinidadian attorney Peter Taylor wrote to the CEO of the Prison 10 days ago saying that for the past 8 years Mason, quote, "has been incarcerated for 23 hours per day with only one hour permitted for recreation...Our client laments that he has for the past eight years, been kept in solitary confinement and in a cell devoid or either natural or electric lighting...he is not allowed to engage in any sporting activities, neither is he allowed any interaction with other inmates nor is he allowed visitors. The perennial darkness of his cell renders reading and writing extremely difficult..."
The attorney concludes that this amounts to "cruel, degrading and inhuman treatment…contrary to the United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners."
In a follow up letter 4 days ago, Taylor asks for an increase in Mason's recreation time from one hour to three hours.
Well, the Attorney General's ministry has written back saying it's not gonna happen.
A letter sent yesterday calls the allegations wholly baseless and also questions whether Taylor has even been properly called to the bar in Belize. It notes that Mason is housed at Tango 10, designated for high risk and high-profile prisoners and that, quote, "The cell that is occupied by Mr. Mason is more than adequate for a single person...Due to Mr. Mason's classification, he does not share his cell with any other prisoner. Additionally, his room is equipped with an electric bulb that provides additional and adequate lighting. Mr. Mason cell has its own toilet, and its own shower, with running water...Furthermore, Mr. Mason has his own standing fan, a writing table, a bed, and a DVD player with audio to watch movies. He is regularly provided with movies and reading material….Prisoners, such as Mr. Mason who do not work, are given one hour's recreation time in the open air...as per the Prison Rules. Consequently, your request for extending your client's recreational hours from one hour to three hours per day is unreasonable and cannot be considered as it does not comply with the Prison Rules..." End quote.
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