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Gavin Newsom again denied parole for the convicted inmate, who has spent over five decades behind bars for her role in the notorious Tate-LaBianca killings orchestrated by Charles Manson.

Governor's Decision Sparks Criticism

Nearly five months after California’s parole board deemed the 77-year-old suitable for release, Newsom overturned the decision and stated that Krenwinkel “currently represents an unreasonable danger to the public if freed from prison at this time.”

It was the second instance the governor has prevented her parole, and the move was met with strong opposition from Krenwinkel’s longtime attorney, who argued the governor chose “politics over people” and failed to consider the mistreatment she suffered from the cult figure.

“The governor's decision of Pat’s grant has no connection to the record of how much she’s changed or the danger she presents,” said her attorney, Krenwinkel’s attorney. “It's entirely political, directly contrary to the evidence and the governing regulations.”

Background of the Murders

Krenwinkel was 21 when the Manson cult committed the murders of actor Sharon Tate and several others, including heiress Abigail Folger and hairstylist Jay Sebring, and the next evening killed grocer Leno LaBianca and his wife, Rosemary. By 1971, she and other Manson followers were found guilty of seven counts of first-degree murder for their roles in the attack.

Life Behind Bars

In her decades behind bars – she is the state's most senior incarcerated woman – she has reformed, friends and her legal team have reported. She has earned college degrees and her conduct is spotless, legal counsel said, which was one of the reasons the parole board supported her parole.

The inmate has expressed remorse for her role in the crimes. Previously, she said: “I wish to express how terribly sorry I am for all the pain and suffering that I caused when I took the lives that I did … I try every day to live amends … [and] work toward self-improvement.”

Previous Mistreatment and Rehabilitation

A 2017 investigation by the authorities found she endured physical, emotional and sexual violence by Charles Manson, her lawyer said in a statement, stating that she has developed her “own identity, independence, and ethical guidance”.

Similar Instances

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