Wild Bill exchanges testimony for privileges

(newsroompanama.com) Self confessed multiple murderer “Wild Bill” William Dathan Holbert, has earned special privileges in a Panama jail in return for “cooperating” with investigators say reports.

After being extradited from Nicaragua on July 29, Holbert, who has confessed to killing five people in Bocas del Toro, was held for 13 days in a transit prison managed by the Directorate of Judicial Investigation On Aug. 11, he was taken to La Joyita.

While he was in a solitary cell in Pavilion 7, considered to be the best area of the prison, he immediately began to complain about the conditions at the facility says La Prensa.

His primary complaint was that he was only granted 30 minutes a day to exercise, make phone calls or wash his clothes.

He refused to cooperate with investigators until his conditions improved, and prosecutors gave in to his demands, and he now has two hours of time a day out of his cell.

Holbert is meeting with prosecutors this week to discuss his case. He will also undergo psychiatric tests.
Lawyers for the defendant have filed a complaint against prison officials for abuse of authority and violation of human rights.

They have also complained that Holbert's co-defendant, Laura Reese, has had her human rights violated in prison.

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Original Source: newsroompanama.com
Date Retrieved: September 22, 2010.