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The governor has once more denied release for Patricia Krenwinkel, who has served over five decades in prison for her role in the notorious Tate-LaBianca killings masterminded by the cult leader.

Parole Reversal Draws Backlash

Months after California’s parole board found the elderly fit for freedom, the governor overturned the ruling and declared that Krenwinkel “currently represents an unreasonable danger to the public if freed from prison at this time.”

It was the second instance Newsom has prevented her release, and the decision was met with strong opposition from her legal representative, who claimed the governor opted for “politics over people” and overlooked the mistreatment she endured from the cult figure.

“Newsom’s reversal of her parole approval has nothing to do with the record of how much she’s changed or the risk she poses,” said her attorney, Krenwinkel’s attorney. “It is 100% political, in opposition to the facts and the controlling law.”

Case History of the Murders

The inmate was 21 when the Manson cult carried out the murders of actress Sharon Tate and four others, among them socialite Abigail Folger and celebrity stylist Jay Sebring, and the next evening killed grocer Leno LaBianca and his spouse, Rosemary LaBianca. In 1971, she and other Manson followers were convicted of multiple counts of murder charges for their roles in the crimes.

Life Behind Bars

In her decades in prison – she is California’s longest serving female prisoner – she has reformed, friends and her legal team have reported. She has earned college degrees and her conduct is spotless, legal counsel noted, which was a key factor the parole board recommended her for release.

The inmate has shown regret for her actions in the offenses. Previously, she said: “I want to say how terribly sorry I am for the harm and anguish that I caused when I ended the lives that I did … I strive daily to make amends … [and] work toward self-improvement.”

Previous Mistreatment and Rehabilitation

An earlier inquiry by the parole board found she experienced abuse in multiple forms by Charles Manson, her lawyer said in a statement, adding that she has found her “own identity, independence, and moral compass”.

Other Cases

The governor has previously blocked release for other former Manson followers. Leslie Van Houten was freed from state custody in recent years after 53 years when a state appeals court overturned the governor’s decision to deny her release.