(Los Angeles) Leslie Van Houten, convicted of two murders while she was a member of Charles Manson’s sect in 1969, will soon be released after more than five decades in prison, her lawyer told AFP.
“She will be released from prison on parole in the coming weeks,” said Ms.e Nancy Tetreault Friday. The Governor of California has indicated that he will not oppose this release.
In the summer of 1969, members of the satanic sect of Charles Manson had sown terror in California where they had committed at least nine murders of great savagery. Among their victims was actress and model Sharon Tate, then married to filmmaker Roman Polanski.
Follower of the “Manson Family”, Leslie Van Houten had been convicted of having participated in the murder of a couple, Leno and Rosemary LaBianca, at their home in Los Angeles in August 1969.
She was initially sentenced to death, a sentence that was later overturned giving rise to two further trials at the end of which she was sentenced to life in prison.
His lawyer hailed his upcoming release. “She is of course delighted but beyond that, she is happy that her hard work of reintegration has been recognized by the administration [pénitentiaire] and the court, who have concluded that she does not presently pose a risk to public safety, ”detailed Ms.e Tetreault.
California Governor Gavin Newsom, who had obtained the rejection in court of the three previous requests for release, will not oppose this time to his release, said his spokesperson.
“The governor is disappointed by the decision of the appeals court to release Mr.me Van Houten but will not take further action given the low chance of success,” Erin Mellon said.
Victims’ families are “still feeling the brutal impact” of the Manson Family murders, she added.
A psychological evaluation of Mme Van Houten, carried out as part of her request for freedom, pointed out that her behavior in prison had been “virtually without fault” but that she could be subject to anguish at the time because of her notoriety.
Once out of prison, she “plans to continue her work as an educator, after obtaining bachelor’s and master’s degrees in prison,” said her lawyer.