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]

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.)