Post by Anja Nieser on Sept 10, 2006 22:36:20 GMT -5
Former Manson Disciple Leslie Van Houten Denied Parole
Leslie Van Houten, the former Charles Manson follower convicted of taking
part in a murderous rampage that terrorized Los Angeles 37 years ago, was
denied parole Thursday for a 16th time.
The once raven-haired homecoming princess, now a gray-haired 57-year-old
prison inmate, was convicted of murder and conspiracy for her role in the
1969 slayings of wealthy grocers Leno and Rosemary La Bianca.
The La Biancas were killed in August 1969, one night after Manson's
followers killed actress Sharon Tate and four others, including celebrity
hairdresser Jay Sebring, coffee heiress Abigail Folger, filmmaker Voityck
Frykowski and Steven Parent, a friend of the Tate estate's caretaker.
Van Houten did not participate in the Tate killings, but went along on the
next night when the La Biancas were slain in their home. Prosecutors said
at Thursday's hearing at Frontera's California Institute for Women that
she had felt "left out" of the first night's carnage.
As she has during past hearings, Van Houten apologized to the victims'
families, but the parole board wasn't swayed. Board members determined she
was an "unacceptable public safety risk and a danger to society" and
unsuitable for parole, said board spokesman Tip Kindel.
Van Houten, Manson and 2 other followers of the cult leader were
originally sentenced to death, but their sentences were reduced to life in
prison with the possibility of parole after California's death penalty was
briefly suspended in the 1970s. None of them have been released.
Although Thursday's ruling keeps her in prison, Van Houten won one small
victory when the board told her she may reapply for parole in one year
rather than the usual 2.
"Certainly, a 1-year denial is an indication of something positive," Van
Houten's attorney, Christie Webb, said afterward.
She added that Van Houten is a model prisoner and no longer the
brainwashed Manson acolyte who helped murder the La Biancas.
"She can't do anything to change the day of the crime, but she improved
herself and she is no longer a danger to society," Webb said.
Patrick Sequeira of the Los Angeles County district attorney's office
expressed disappointment at Van Houten's being allowed to apply for parole
next year. He said she should never be freed.
(sources: KABC-TV & Associated Press)
Leslie Van Houten, the former Charles Manson follower convicted of taking
part in a murderous rampage that terrorized Los Angeles 37 years ago, was
denied parole Thursday for a 16th time.
The once raven-haired homecoming princess, now a gray-haired 57-year-old
prison inmate, was convicted of murder and conspiracy for her role in the
1969 slayings of wealthy grocers Leno and Rosemary La Bianca.
The La Biancas were killed in August 1969, one night after Manson's
followers killed actress Sharon Tate and four others, including celebrity
hairdresser Jay Sebring, coffee heiress Abigail Folger, filmmaker Voityck
Frykowski and Steven Parent, a friend of the Tate estate's caretaker.
Van Houten did not participate in the Tate killings, but went along on the
next night when the La Biancas were slain in their home. Prosecutors said
at Thursday's hearing at Frontera's California Institute for Women that
she had felt "left out" of the first night's carnage.
As she has during past hearings, Van Houten apologized to the victims'
families, but the parole board wasn't swayed. Board members determined she
was an "unacceptable public safety risk and a danger to society" and
unsuitable for parole, said board spokesman Tip Kindel.
Van Houten, Manson and 2 other followers of the cult leader were
originally sentenced to death, but their sentences were reduced to life in
prison with the possibility of parole after California's death penalty was
briefly suspended in the 1970s. None of them have been released.
Although Thursday's ruling keeps her in prison, Van Houten won one small
victory when the board told her she may reapply for parole in one year
rather than the usual 2.
"Certainly, a 1-year denial is an indication of something positive," Van
Houten's attorney, Christie Webb, said afterward.
She added that Van Houten is a model prisoner and no longer the
brainwashed Manson acolyte who helped murder the La Biancas.
"She can't do anything to change the day of the crime, but she improved
herself and she is no longer a danger to society," Webb said.
Patrick Sequeira of the Los Angeles County district attorney's office
expressed disappointment at Van Houten's being allowed to apply for parole
next year. He said she should never be freed.
(sources: KABC-TV & Associated Press)