Judge Overturns Parole Decision For Cop Killer

INDIANAPOLIS -- A man convicted of taking part in the murder of an Indianapolis police officer had his chance of freedom snatched away Monday.

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Parole Board Could Uphold Decision

Norman Woodford (1970s file image at left) was scheduled to be freed from jail Tuesday, but a judge's ruling will keep him behind bars for now, RTV6's Jack Rinehart reported.

Patrolman Ronald Manley (pictured, below) had been an Indianapolis Police Department officer for five years when he investigated a robbery on Dec. 11, 1974, at a drugstore just north of downtown Indianapolis.

Manley, who was married with three children, then ages 6, 7 and 8, confronted two armed men and was killed after exchanging shots with them.

Woodford, 21 at the time, pleaded guilty to murder in connection with Manley's death.

Judge Steven Nation ruled that when the Indiana Parole Board met last February to decide on Woodford's release, it did not have all the facts of the case.

Nation said the parole board failed to take into account the current attitudes of the slain officer's family, conduct a thorough investigation, and consult with the lead police officers and prosecutors originally assigned to the case.

"Somehow the Parole Commission was presented a set of facts that was like Walt Disney. It was made up, and it was made up, I think, to cover the fact that he was the triggerman," former Deputy Prosecutor Christopher Zoeller said.

Testimony at the February hearing was that Woodford participated in the robbery of the drug store, supplied the murder weapon to his accomplice, but did not shoot Manley, Rinehart reported.

Zoeller, who was the lead prosecutor in the case, said the evidence and the science don't support Woodford's story.

"When they come out and say we released him because he was not the triggerman, that's fantasy land," Zoeller said.

Nation ordered the Parole Board to consider all the facts of the case before making a final decision, but the board could consider the new information and decide to release Woodford anyway, Rinehart reported.

Manley's family has steadfastly opposed Woodford's release from prison, testifying against his release three separate times before the parole board, Rinehart reported.

Last week, the victim's widow, Stephanie Manley, filed a lawsuit against the parole board calling its decision "arbitrary and capricious."

Board members have not decided whether to appeal the decision, board spokesman Earl Coleman said.