<p>An article in the LA Weekly [3] reports that Billy is being mistreated by prison guards who have labeled him a “terrorist”. According to the article, he is not permitted to study physics or Mandarin Chinese, is not permitted to teach the other prisoners calculus, and has had his books and papers removed without being given a reason.
A letter in Cottrells defense, signed by Stephen Hawking and other prominent scientists, was distributed to prison authorities and the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals at Cottrells October 18, 2006 hearing. “But instead of helping him in prison, the letter seemed only to make things worse: Two weeks after the hearing, Cottrell was mysteriously thrown in the Hole.”[3]</p>
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<p>I guess they are worried about him being the inside book maker for the Triad’s derivatives ring.</p>