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I invite everybody to read the John Waters' articles on Leslie Van Houten - one of the so-called Manson girls in 1969.
Already in 1980, Judge Bob Krug said:
"I cannot find any indication where miss Van Houten has done anything wrong in prison. They can't keep using the crime forever and ever. That turns her sentence into life without parole. If I was miss Van Houten, I wouldn't have a clue what to do at the next hearing."
And still in 1980, the Prosecutor himself (Stephen Kay, who argued against parole) said she shouldn't be locked forever, but should wait until she is 40 years old.
30 years later, aged 61, Leslie Van Houten is still locked.
She's spent four decades in jail.
How many killers have been released in the meantime ?
She did participate in something horrible when she was 19, but as has been noted :
"If Leslie Van Houten had never existed, the LaBiancas still would be dead" (Attorney Paul Fitzegald in the Los Angeles Times).
Indeed, horrible as it has been, her implication is minimal if compared to that of other Manson zombie-killers. She did not participate in the Tate murders, and on 10th August, Watson had already stabbed Rosemary LaBianca to death when he ordered Leslie : "Do something!"
And she then stabbed Mrs LaBianca as she was dying, or already dead.
Whatever, Leslie takes full responsability for the crimes.
She even doesn't argue that Manson's influence should be considered a mitigating circumstance, saying:
"I blame myself. I'm part of what made him a leader. A follower is as responsible for allowing a leader to lead them foully."
All experts agree she is suitable for parole and no longer a danger for the community.
Suffice to watch the cruel game of parole hearings to see how sincerely and deeply remorseful she is. How ashamed.
Leslie Van Houten is also ashamed to have been a Manson follower. It hurts. She's smart and has long understood the vicious little bastard he is. Pleaing for her release is therefore anything but worshipping Manson.
In fact, it seems that each time she is denied parole, Manson wins and justice looses, for I have no doubt that if the Manson murders had not been so famous, Leslie would have long been granted parole.
In this respect also, she's a Manson victim. It's unjust.
Justice should consider the facts,not their fame.
And as a matter of fact, I've never seen a case more suitable for parole.
Here are the links to John Waters articles (from his book "Role Models", to be published in May):
Already in 1980, Judge Bob Krug said:
"I cannot find any indication where miss Van Houten has done anything wrong in prison. They can't keep using the crime forever and ever. That turns her sentence into life without parole. If I was miss Van Houten, I wouldn't have a clue what to do at the next hearing."
And still in 1980, the Prosecutor himself (Stephen Kay, who argued against parole) said she shouldn't be locked forever, but should wait until she is 40 years old.
30 years later, aged 61, Leslie Van Houten is still locked.
She's spent four decades in jail.
How many killers have been released in the meantime ?
She did participate in something horrible when she was 19, but as has been noted :
"If Leslie Van Houten had never existed, the LaBiancas still would be dead" (Attorney Paul Fitzegald in the Los Angeles Times).
Indeed, horrible as it has been, her implication is minimal if compared to that of other Manson zombie-killers. She did not participate in the Tate murders, and on 10th August, Watson had already stabbed Rosemary LaBianca to death when he ordered Leslie : "Do something!"
And she then stabbed Mrs LaBianca as she was dying, or already dead.
Whatever, Leslie takes full responsability for the crimes.
She even doesn't argue that Manson's influence should be considered a mitigating circumstance, saying:
"I blame myself. I'm part of what made him a leader. A follower is as responsible for allowing a leader to lead them foully."
All experts agree she is suitable for parole and no longer a danger for the community.
Suffice to watch the cruel game of parole hearings to see how sincerely and deeply remorseful she is. How ashamed.
Leslie Van Houten is also ashamed to have been a Manson follower. It hurts. She's smart and has long understood the vicious little bastard he is. Pleaing for her release is therefore anything but worshipping Manson.
In fact, it seems that each time she is denied parole, Manson wins and justice looses, for I have no doubt that if the Manson murders had not been so famous, Leslie would have long been granted parole.
In this respect also, she's a Manson victim. It's unjust.
Justice should consider the facts,not their fame.
And as a matter of fact, I've never seen a case more suitable for parole.
Here are the links to John Waters articles (from his book "Role Models", to be published in May):
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