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- Aftermath
The story of Charles Manson and his accomplices since
their conviction has revolved chiefly around how soon
they will be granted parole. Only one of them, Steven
Grogan, has been released, after serving 13 years of his
sentence.
He was probably helped by leading the authorities to the
previously undiscovered body of Shorty Shea. On his release
he began working as a house painter in the San Fernando
Valley. The murderers first became eligible for parole
in 1978, six years after the abolition of the Californian
death penalty.
Since then a running battle has been fought to ensure
that none of them, particularly Manson, come out any sooner
than they have to. Stephen Kay, a Los Angeles County district
attorney, who worked as an assistant to Vincent Bugliosi
during the original trials, has kept up a close scrutiny
of each of the murderers.
The chances of Manson ever being released are unlikely.
At a 1981 parole hearing he warned that Kay would be killed
in the car park afterwards. A year later he was put into
a maximum security cell at Vacaville prison in California
after reports that he was planning an escape by balloon.
A catalogue for hot air balloons, a hacksaw and other
items including rope and a container of flammable liquid
were discovered in the jail. It is different for Manson's
accomplices, however, particularly the three girls, Susan
Atkins, Patricia Krenwinkel and Leslie Van Houten.
Using skilled lawyers they have worked hard to find loopholes
that will help towards their release. The most likely
candidate is Leslie Van Houten. She has become a model
prisoner at the California Institution for Women at Frontera,
where she gained a degree in psychology and literature.
This is combined with the fact that her involvement in
the LaBianca murders may have been only secondary, since
she stabbed Rosemary LaBianca after she was already dead.
But while Vincent Bugliosi believes it certain that the
three girls will be released eventually, the future of
Charles Tex Watson, whose direct involvement in the murders
was the most appalling, remains less certain.
His period as assistant Protestant pastor in prison at
San Luis Obispo - with fellow Family murderer Bruce Davis
as his assistant came to an end when DA Kay complained
that he was trying to build himself a personal power base
within the prison. |
| Contact : bernard.omahoney@bernardomahoney.com |
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