BOSTON – A federal judge has ruled that the state's prison system violated a convicted child killer's civil rights by denying him a vegan diet.
U.S. Chief District Judge Mark Wolf ruled this week that the Department of Correction violated federal law protecting religious freedom and ordered the department to provide Daniel Yeboah-Sefah a diet in line with his Buddhist beliefs.
Yeboah-Sefah, formerly known as Henry Boateng, is serving a life sentence for beating his 5-week-old son to death in 1992. He converted and changed his name while in prison.
Boateng was given a vegetarian diet in prison, but said in his lawsuit he wanted a vegan diet free of all animal products.
The department will comply with the order and will not appeal, Diane Wiffin, a prisons spokeswoman said.
Yeboah-Sefah's lawyer, Beverly Chorbajian, said her client is pleased.
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