Ex-Manson follower says she's political prisoner

Houston Chronicle ^ | May 31, 2003 | Associated Press

[Houmatt]

RIVERSIDE, Calif. -- Former Charles Manson disciple and convicted murderer Susan Atkins is suing Gov. Gray Davis, contending his policy opposing parole for nearly all murderers has made her a political prisoner.

Parole board members and prison officials also are named in the federal civil rights lawsuit, which accuses them of ignoring the Constitution and parole rules to keep Atkins behind bars.

"Over the course of her incarceration, Ms. Atkins has been transformed into a political prisoner," said the suit, filed by attorney Eric P. Lampel of Irvine. He said psychiatrists call her a model prisoner who is not a threat to society.

Atkins, 55, who confessed at the sensational 1970-71 Manson trial that she fatally stabbed pregnant actress Sharon Tate, has since recanted that confession, saying she was present but did not kill Tate.

She was convicted along with Manson, Charles "Tex" Watson, Leslie Van Houten and Patricia Krenwinkle, and all were sentenced to death for their roles in a series of murders in the summer of 1969. The sentences were later commuted to life when the Supreme Court struck down the death penalty in the 1970s. All five are still behind bars.

Atkins was denied parole for the 10th time in 2000, and relatives of those killed have adamantly opposed her release.

Since Davis took office in 1999, the governor has freed only two murderers, both women who were found to have suffered from battered women's syndrome when they committed the crimes. He has vetoed more than 150 other releases recommended by parole boards.

A 1988 voter-approved constitutional amendment gives California's governor carte blanche to overturn parole board-approved releases.

Last month, the U.S. Supreme Court refused to consider restricting Davis' powers to block the parole of convicted murderers. The case was appealed by Robert Rosenkrantz, who was convicted of killing a teenage friend in 1985 after the friend revealed Rosenkrantz's homosexuality. Rosenkrantz sued Davis after the governor blocked his parole board-approved release.

Atkins' lawsuit, filed in April, seeks to advance her next parole hearing, now scheduled for 2004, to this year and asks for $1 million in punitive damages. Lampel has said all damages would be donated to crime victims.

The California attorney general's office last week filed a motion to dismiss the lawsuit, contending it is premature because Atkins has not exhausted other remedies.

U.S. District Judge Robert Timlin set a June 30 hearing.

[goldstategop]

BWAHAHAHAHAHA!!!

[The Hon. Galahad Threepwood]

If I were the judge, I'd declare her lawsuit frivolous and order her to pay the state's legal expenses.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Susan was in my first Mass Murderer Trading Cards collection...

[goldstategop]

Mvmmmm.... we could produce card decks of all The Infamous & Notorious in California prisons.

[Focault's Pendulum]

One of the reasons I enjoy reading these articles, is because it brings back memories of my youth.

Unfortunately, Sharon Tate, 26 at the time of her death, has had the promise of memories forever taken away.

[Tamzee]

Poor Susan Atkins.... life really isn't fair, is it?

And life was really, REALLY unfair to poor Sharon Tate, too... or rather, YOU were.

[goldstategop]

As much as I loathe Gray Davis... his parole policy is one area I back him up on to the hilt. I hope Susan Atkins is kept locked up til the day she dies.

[veronica]

OH PLEASE. Susan Atkins was the most bloodthirsty and sadistic of the bunch. If not for the disgraceful Judge Rose Bird, Atkins would long ago have paid her debt to society.

[katz]

I don't live anywhere near Kalafornia but the Manson clan needs to go away. Their parol hearings are interesting to watch on court TV. That is all I can say about them.

[gunnedah]

There are no doubts in my mind these people should have been executed. BUT! This is what will happen when you do away with the death penalty they will go to screaming and hollering cruel and unusual punishment having to stay in prison that long. But! Being honest with myself, she is a political prisoner of the Liberal SOBs in Hollywood because of who was killed. There have been many people parolled for cold blooded murder of police officers after not half as much time.The diverse liberals in Hollywood keep her prisoner to send criminals a message not to mess with them and the politicians help them.
This is the same crowd that believes in diversity and human rights. Yet they wont allow people to stroll on the beaches in front of their homes.

[Let's Roll]

So now murdering a woman and her unborn child is no longer murder but a political crime?

[goldstategop]

Blame it on the idiotic U.S Supreme Court that threw out the death penalty in 1972.

[goldstategop]

She can declare herself transgendered, lesbian, and having an African American grandmother and before you know it, there'll be a FREE ATKINS movement in the works. With all the usual suspects of course helping her. Her guilt won't matter; what's important is kicking down a racist, patriarchial, and homophobic system.

[nothingnew]

Hey susan, go carve a swastika on yer head and shut up.

FMCDH

[goldstategop]

Of course their beaches are private property. The rest of society is fair game. But you already got that figured out didn't ya? ;-)

[b4its2late]

They are obviously allowed WAY TOO MUCH free time in the slammer.....

[goldstategop]

Roll in the sack with Charlie while you're at it.

[goldstategop]

Murderers can be such a creative bunch. Fellow felon Clinton would be proud.

[Jaidyn]

If memory serves me correctly, didn't they get the death penalty but Ca. stopped the penalty, then reinstated it? They mocked the court and the families every day they were in court, laughing at the system. They don't need to get another stab (pun intended) at freedom.

[goldstategop]

No. All they get are parole hearings that will result in their never being let out. They're too high profile to ever be eligible for release.

[Bonaparte]

You're so right. In spite of all their elaborate pretenses, the Hollywood set only care about themselves. Victims' rights for them but not for you. Guns for them and their bodyguards but not for you.

[TrebleRebel]

She gets her death sentence commuted to life, and she's whining because she can't get out of prison. She could have had the gas chamber 30 years ago.

[TrebleRebel]

....and then they give an Oscar to Polanski because of all he's been thru.....

[tet68]

To: Grey Davis
From: Susan Atkins

Greyyy, I'm juust a reflection of youuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu!
Sincerely
Susan #21345
CC: C. Manson

[Houmatt]

So now murdering a woman and her unborn child is no longer murder but a political crime?

Don't say that too loud. It may give Mark Geragos ideas.

[Joe Hadenuf]

Mvmmmm.... we could produce card decks of all The Infamous & Notorious in California prisons.

They may be in California prisons, but most are not even from California.

Like the insane gang leader, Charlie Manson...From Cincinnati Ohio......

[csvset]

*WARNING* Graphic photo Psychic Peter Hurkos at scene of Sharon's murder.

*WARNING* Graphic photo Roman Polanski at "PIG" door at Tate crime scene

Susan Atkins' mugshot photo

As far as I'm concerned, Susan Atkins can rot in prison.

[Bonaparte]

"She gets her death sentence commuted to life, and she's whining because she can't get out of prison."

Yeah, she's having a real rough time in prison -- she got married in prison twice.

And get this -- she says she needs to get out of prison so she can make up for her "sins" against God and society directly. She actually thinks she can "make up" for Sharon Tate's and the LaBianca's deaths.

Did you know that she laughed and joked in court while Sharon Tate's murder was being described?

[Duramaximus]

RIVERSIDE, Calif. -- Former Charles Manson disciple and convicted murderer Susan Atkins is suing Gov. Gray Davis, contending his policy opposing parole for nearly all murderers has made her a political prisoner.

Susan Atkins should consider herself fortunate to be living in this world.

If I had my way she would be worm fodder, her and that slimey piece of human debris Charlie Manson.

The only crime here is that the taxpayers have to support this garbage. Rot in hell Susan Atkins!

[dighton]

If memory serves me correctly, didn't they get the death penalty but Ca. stopped the penalty, then reinstated it?

History of capital punishment in California

Your memory is correct. Manson and five of his "family" were sentenced to death in 1971. In February of 1972, the California Supreme Court abolished the death penalty, and all existing death sentences in the state were reduced to life imprisonment. California reinstated the death penalty in 1977, but executions are quite infrequent.

[man of Yosemite]

Maybe we should view the death penalty as more merciful than life in prison.

[gcruse]

Let her out? Shoot, let me in!

http://blackmarketmagazine.com/Kultureshock/Interviews/Fromme/sq-nude.jpg

[MarkL]

How about we make a deal, Susie... We'll let you out of jail, as soon as Sharon Tate isn't dead anymore! Sounds fair to me!

Mark

[Bonaparte]

That's not how death row inmates view things. Almost to a man, they would rather serve life without parole than be executed.

[onyx]

>>> ... attorney Eric P. Lampel of Irvine said psychiatrists call her a model prisoner who is not a threat to society. <<<

I'd like the names of every psychiatrist referenced, so that I can personally report them.

[Hillarys Gate Cult]

I know a way she can try to get out. She could claim that she's needed by the Democrats as a candidate for public office. She would have plenty of support as she's just the kind of woman they like.

[jhw61]

I saw here parole hearing last spring. She was so proud of herself and her contributions to her fellow imates. And as the Tate and LaBianca families sat there, she never said anything about their pain. She never even looked their way. She admittedly killed Mrs. LaBianca. I could not get over the audacity (sp?) of her expecting to get released right there. She was stunned.....too bad Suzie Q! Better luck next time..NOT.

[Hillarys Gate Cult]

For an informative site about the murdrers, go here;

WARNING. Very graphic photos. Anyone who wants to support any of these Manson monsters ever rejoining society should go here first.

http://users.adelphia.net/~mansonmurders/index.htm

[Ciexyz]

....and then they gave an Oscar to Polanski after all he's been thru....

I saw "The Pianist" and have to admit, it was a magnificent achievement. He had the other contenders beat. (That said, I still fault Polanski for his sex conviction with the underage girl.)

[Ciexyz]

Larry King had Lesley Van Houten on some years ago and I remember thinking, this woman isn't a normal human being. There was something missing behind her act of being a reformed prisoner. You could sense something dark about her. Esp. remembering how the Manson clan creeped into houses late at night and stalked the inhabitants, as in the LoBianco murders.

[man of Yosemite]

That's absolutely true, but people who commit murder are not free to judge themselves, nor should they be.

[Houmatt]

You know, I had been looking for a site like that myself. For some reason, though, every site that claimed to have photos either had them deleted or the site was gone. My hat is off to you, fine sir/madam.

Yes, if anyone REALLY wants to know why Atkins should never be allowed a single moment of freedom; if you want to know the real reason she is in jail, PLEASE visit this site.

Your conscience will thank you later.

[Bonaparte]

Agreed. The only mercy a killer is entitled to is a quick execution.

[weegee]

The sentences were later commuted to life when the Supreme Court struck down the death penalty in the 1970s.

So she escaped the death penalty and is serving a LIFE sentence. And she wants out. What is the purpose of a "life sentence" then?

Some who support the death penalty say it is a way of making sure that some convicted criminals never walk in public again. Opponents say that they can be sentenced to "Life In Prison". Doesn't look like it does much good, they are still elligible for parole.