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Gavin Newsom has once more denied parole for Patricia Krenwinkel, who has served over five decades in prison for her role in the notorious Tate-LaBianca killings masterminded by Charles Manson.

Governor's Decision Draws Backlash

Months after California’s parole board found the elderly suitable for freedom, the governor overturned the decision and stated that Krenwinkel “currently poses an unacceptable risk to the public if freed from custody at this time.”

It was the second instance Newsom has blocked her release, and the move was met with sharp criticism from her legal representative, who claimed the governor opted for “politics over people” and overlooked the mistreatment she suffered from Manson.

“The governor's decision 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, directly contrary to the facts and the governing regulations.”

Case History of the Crimes

Krenwinkel was twenty-one when the Manson cult committed the killings of actor Sharon Tate and four others, among them socialite Abigail Folger and hairstylist Jay Sebring, and the next evening murdered grocer Leno LaBianca and his wife, Rosemary LaBianca. In 1971, she and other Manson followers were found guilty of multiple counts of murder charges for their involvement in the attack.

Life Behind Bars

In her decades in prison – Krenwinkel is California’s longest serving female prisoner – she has reformed, supporters and attorneys stated. She has earned college degrees and her conduct is spotless, her attorney noted, which was a key factor the panel recommended her for release.

The inmate has expressed remorse for her actions in the offenses. In 2022, she stated: “I want to say how terribly sorry I am for the harm and anguish that I created when I took the lives that I did … I try every day to live amends … [and] work toward being a better person.”

Past Abuse and Rehabilitation

An earlier inquiry by the authorities revealed she experienced physical, emotional and sexual violence by Charles Manson, her attorney said in a statement, adding that she has developed her “own identity, independence, and ethical guidance”.

Similar Instances

Newsom has previously denied parole for other former cult members. Another follower was released from California prison in recent years after 53 years when a state appeals court overturned the governor's ruling to block her parole.