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California Gov. Gavin Newsom said Friday he would not ask the state Supreme Court to block the parole of Charles Manson devotee Leslie Van Houten.
The governor’s office said it was unlikely the state high court would consider appealing the lower court’s ruling to release Van Houten. That means Van Houten is likely to be released after serving 53 years for his role in the murders of Reno LaBianca and Rosemary LaBianca, who were murdered in their Los Feliz home in 1969. Thing.
The murder occurred two nights after four people, including actress Sharon Tate, were murdered in Benedict Canyon. Van Houten did not participate in the Tate murders.
“More than 50 years after the Manson cult committed these brutal murders, the victims’ families are still feeling its effects,” the statement said.
Van Houten, now in his 70s, was serving a life sentence. Her attorney, Nancy Tetlow, said she could be released from the Corona Women’s Association of California within two weeks.
She has been recommended for parole five times since 2016, all of which Mr. Newsom and former Gov. Jerry Brown have rejected.
Van Houten will be released to a nursing home to learn basic life skills.
“She has been in prison for 53 years.
Leno LaBianca’s daughter, Cory LaBianca, said in a phone interview with The Associated Press on Friday, “My family and I are heartbroken as we revisit all those years when my father and stepmother weren’t together.” Told.
75-year-old Cory La Bianca said: “Neither my children nor my grandchildren had the opportunity to get to know each other. It was a huge void in our family.”
