Louisiana: Attorneys for Angola prisoners declare that confessions of murder of guard were products of coercion, violence

Four state prisoners testified Monday that Louisiana State Penitentiary officers beat them severely in the wake of the Dec. 28, 1999, slaying of security Capt. David C. Knapps.

The testimony came during a hearing before 20th Judicial District Judge George H. Ware Jr., who will decide whether to throw out statements made by five Angola inmates who face first-degree murder charges in Knapps’ slaying and those made by other inmates during the investigation.

The hearing continues today.

Defense attorneys say the statements should not be allowed at trial because they were made under duress.

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