Manson follower Leslie Van Houten faces 20th parole hearing

[Auggie]

A.P. / 6-5-13

CHINO, Calif. (AP) — She was the youngest Charles Manson follower convicted in the infamous Tate-LaBianca murders — a girl of 19 who seemed the one most likely to win parole one day

But 44 years after she went to prison, Leslie Van Houten has gray hair and wrinkles and is facing her 20th parole hearing Wednesday with multiple forces arrayed against her bid for a chance at freedom.

A prosecutor plans to oppose her release as he has before, citing the heinous nature of the murders that shocked the world in the summer of 1969 and continue to occupy a unique place in the annals of American crime. Survivors of victims planned to travel to the California Institution for Women to speak out against letting Van Houten go free.

MORE: http://www.sfgate.com/news/crime/article/Leslie-Van-Houten-faces-20th-parole-hearing-4577999.php

[mnmoderatedem]

1. methinks

it will end up like the previous 19. And she, Krenwinkle, Watson and Manson himself will receive the same fate as Susan Atkins.

[JaneyVee]

2. *fingers crossed*

just kidding.

[cherokeeprogressive]

3. Give her fresh linens and send her back to her cell. n/t

[arely staircase]

4. may it go as well as the others

nt

[MinM]

5. Laurel Canyon

An interesting take on that time and place...

http://www.davesweb.cnchost.com/nwsltr104.html

[MinM]

6. Former Manson family member tells CA parole board she's changed

@KPCC: Former Manson family member tells CA parole board she's changed http://kp.cc/18X4bTo

https://twitter.com/KPCC/status/342380809052901376

Obviously the political reality of such a prominent case is that Leslie Van Houten will never be released. Hell even the 'good' people of the DU in this small sample want her locked up forever.

Speaking in a broader sense though I hope people can change...

Perhaps that's just pollyannish Hollywood type fairy tale.

[mnmoderatedem]

9. judging from jailhouse interviews

I get the gut feeling that all of Manson's disciples who participated in the murders seem genuinely remorseful. At least Van Houten, Watson, and Krenwinkle. Not sure about Atkins, she really didn't give much by way of interviews before she died. I get the gut feeling each of the others would give anything to take back that period of their lives. Not that it matters, or really should. The sheer brutality of their crimes and the number of people killed dictates that they be locked up forever.

Manson himself of course is a completely different story. He turns his parole hearings, at least the ones he bothers to attend, into a farce. I'm very much against the death penalty, but I think Bugliosi was unfortunately correct when he maintains the Manson essentially beat the rap when he was spared the death penalty. Manson is right at home in prison, but was scared to death of the gas chamber.

[sir pball]

10. If I were Manson I'd probably do the exact same thing

The others have some illusions of a chance, but he's quite clear that it's not going to happen. If they're going to hold the hearings anyway, why not have some fun with them? As was pointed out downthread, it's a farcical waste of time to begin with, making it into even more of a circus is hardly unsportsmanlike.

[dembotoz]

7. link says request denied

so at least she won't be buying guns any time soon at the local gun shows....

[Chan790]

8. Sometimes I think...

it'd be better if parole boards could decide in their decisions not to waste anybody's time by holding future parole hearings.

How much does this cost, factoring in all costs. It's probably not much for a hearing but after 44 years and 20 hearings with the possibility she could live another 25 years and 12 more hearings? It's probably not cheap either.

She's never getting out. It's a formality at this point to have hearings. It gets her hopes up every time even though even she knows she's never being released. So continuing to have hearings is an expense, a waste of time and arguably cruel.

[The Second Stone]

11. Releasing someone that old after so long

would be cruel. She would have no way to know how to get around in the world.