FRESNO, Calif. (KMJ) — The youngest of Charles Mason’s murderous followers has persuaded a California parole panel that she has reformed and deserves to be released from prison.
Leslie Van Houten, who was 19 when she killed for Manson in 1969, appeared before a panel for the 21st time Wednesday.
Last year, a similar panel tentatively granted her parole, but was overruled by Gov. Jerry Brown.
Over two nights in August of 1969, Manson’s rag-tag band of followers killed seven people, including actress Sharon Tate.
Van Houten, now 68, didn’t take part in the first night’s killings of Tate and four others.
However, she helped kill grocer Leno la Bianca and his wife, Rosemary, on the second night.
