Ex-Manson Disciple Denied Parole

abcnews ^ | June 28 | Associated Press

[mdittmar]

Former Manson disciple Leslie Van Houten was denied parole Friday after a hearing in which she pleaded for her freedom, saying will always bear the sorrow of the cult murders that landed her in prison 33 years ago.

It was Van Houten's 14th appearance before the parole board, and it had been considered her best chance yet of winning release. A judge earlier this month strongly admonished the board for flatly turning her down every time based solely on the crime, without taking into account her accomplishments in prison.

"My heart aches and there seems to be no way to convey the amount of pain I caused," the 52-year-old Van Houten told the state parole board during the hearing. "I don't know what else to say."

Charles Manson, his chief lieutenant Charles "Tex" Watson, and three women Van Houten, Susan Atkins and Patricia Krenwinkle were convicted and sentenced to death for their roles in the 1969 murders of actress Sharon Tate, Leno and Rosemary LaBianca and four others. The sentences were later commuted to life when the U.S. Supreme Court struck down the death penalty in the 1970s.

All five Manson "family" members are still behind bars.

Van Houten was 19 when she participated in the stabbing deaths of the LaBiancas in their home. She was not present the night before when Tate and the others were slain at the actress' Beverly Hills mansion.

Van Houten said she stabbed Rosemary La Bianca 14 to 16 times.

"Each day I wake up, I know why I'm waking up where I am," she said of her time in prison. "One of the hardest things in dealing with having contributed to murder is that there's no restitution, there's no making it right."

Deputy District Attorney Stephen Kay had urged Van Houten's continued incarceration.

"It can be determined that the gravity of the crime outweighs her good behavior," Kay said. "She got her life. That's something the La Biancas did not get. I think she should be grateful for that and be found unsuitable for parole for two years."

During the parole hearing, Van Houten said she has tried to live a worthwhile life in prison. And if she gets out, she said, "I look forward to living quietly and to help take care of my mother."

She spoke softly of the chance to get to know her nieces and nephews and "actually being part of my family."

Van Houten has offers of work in a fabric store and with a film company and hopes to continue her college education.

[mdittmar]

19-52,I like it.

Keep it up parole board.

This is justice.

[goodieD]

glad to hear it. She and the others should have been offed long ago.

[DoughtyOne]

And people wonder why I want the death penalty? This bi_ch helped kill seven people with no concience at all. Her buds butchered the pregnant Sharon Tate. This is one time when I hope Budhism is right. I hope she comes back as a cockroach for the next 5000 cycles so I and my friends can stomp her over and over.

I don't have much patience for this a--.

[SerpentDove]

These animals should have gotten death.

[goodieD]

BTW, not sure if all our local Fresno freepers are aware of this, but Hanford is the home of Sandra Goode, another Manson devotee who moved there in order to be closer to her idol. She is not allowed visitation with him of course, and still maintains his innocence. She was best friends with Squeaky Fromme, another Mansonite who tried to kill Gerald Ford.

[Kerberos]

"She was best friends with Squeaky Fromme"

Yea, whatever happened to old Squeaky? I assume she is still doing time

[Slyfox]

She's really pretty lucky. One of the last women on Texas death row got the needle for doing essentially the same thing.

[mdittmar]

These animals should have gotten death.

Yep,but I'll take what I can get.

Hope she dies in a one bed cell all alone:)

[alisasny]

With her original sentance being death I can't even believe anyone would consider letter this killer out. I really could care less that she has redeemed herself in jail, big whoop!! 7 people didnt even get a chance for parole, they were murdered in cold blood!!

[alisasny]

Last I heard Squeeky is still a Manson disciple. She was perhaps his greatest supporter and still is.

[Chad Fairbanks]

Unless she escaped again (for 40 whole hours some time ago), she is most certainly still doing time, and I doubt she will ever make parole...

[Arkinsaw]

They are going to take it away from the Parole Board soon. The courts have already admonished the parole board for not taking into account her actions in prison. The court has said that by only looking at the crime the parole board is changing the juries LIFE sentence to a LIFE WITHOUT PAROLE sentence. The court says that this is something that the parole board does not have the authority to do.

I am surprised that the parole board did not not make some nod toward considering her in prison life in this rejection. Doing so would have taken it out of the court's hands. Instead they very specifically looked at the crime itself. Sort of weird to do something that the court warned was a potential problem for it.

My analysis of this is that the parole board did not want to release her but are not opposed to having the court do it for them. So I am not impressed by the parole board as you are. I think they wimped out and expect the court to take the heat rather than them.

I expect to see the courts release her before she gets to her next hearing. I could be wrong but we will see.

[Kerberos]

"and I doubt she will ever make parole... "

Well hopefully not. I don't think any of them will ever make parole, which is as it should be.

[StormEye]

"Van Houten said she stabbed Rosemary La Bianca 14 to 16 times. "Each day I wake up, I know why I'm waking up where I am," she said of her time in prison. "One of the hardest things in dealing with having contributed to murder is that there's no restitution, there's no making it right."

Stabbing a person you don't even know 14 - 19 times is a bit more than "having contributed to murder." By all rights Van Houten should have been and still should be hanged! As for making restitution: How about slitting your own throat Van Houten?

[gc4nra]

'She spoke softly of the chance to get to know her nieces and nephews and "actually being part of my family." '

Just like Sharon Tate got to know her unborn baby. This POS is right where she belongs!

[Paleo Conservative]

They are going to take it away from the Parole Board soon. The courts have already admonished the parole board for not taking into account her actions in prison. The court has said that by only looking at the crime the parole board is changing the juries LIFE sentence to a LIFE WITHOUT PAROLE sentence. The court says that this is something that the parole board does not have the authority to do.

I thought that Leslie Van Houten was sentenced to death along with Manson. It was SCOTUS that threw out all existing death penalty laws in the US in 1972. The sentences were then changed to life. Why were they not changed to life without parole? The fact that these perverts got the death penalty indicates that the jury never intended that they should ever be released from prison.

[waterstraat]

Why is Manson still in jail? He never hurt anybody. He wasnt even there. I think it was that Tex that masterminded the slayings, not Manson. Leslie has been in prison much longer than any other murderer in California. Leslie is obviously being discriminated against.

I dont think those that murder high profile people, like Robert Kennedy, or Sharon Tate, should be punished any more than those that murder Joe Shmoe. The California justice system is a joke.

[jackbill]

My analysis of this is that the parole board did not want to release her but are not opposed to having the court do it for them. So I am not impressed by the parole board as you are. I think they wimped out and expect the court to take the heat rather than them.

Don't forget, there is an election this year. Who appoints the Parole Board? The Governor? Would the Parole Board release her in time for public opinion to turn against Gray-out Davis? Not Bloody likely.

[alisasny]

By the way..what is this good behavior in prison thing anyway?? She hasn't killed anyone in prison? She has had no access to mind altering drugs nor contact with devient men?

She hasnt had the pleasure of the Spawn ranch but instead a tiny cell?

Give me a break!! BY the way I consider Sharon Tate's unborn baby the 8th victim of these sicko's!!

[Arkinsaw]

The fact that these perverts got the death penalty indicates that the jury never intended that they should ever be released from prison.

I'm just reporting what I saw written about the case. I'm in no way saying I agree with the logic. Courts in that part of the country are not always logical.