Former Manson cult killer Bruce Davis granted parole

Former Manson Family member Bruce Davis, who was sentenced to life in prison for two 1969 murders carried out with other members of the cult, was granted parole on Wednesday by a California parole board, although it was not certain he would be freed.

Davis's parole must still be affirmed by California Governor Jerry Brown, who reversed a similar decision by the same board last year, saying that the 71-year-old killer remained a danger to the public.

A spokesman for Brown declined to say if the governor was expected to block Davis’s release again.

Davis has been serving a life sentence in a California state prison since his 1972 conviction for the murders of music teacher Gary Hinman, who was stabbed to death in July 1969, and stunt man Donald "Shorty" Shea, who was killed the following month.

Decision reversed
Davis, who was arrested in 1970 after nearly a year on the run, was granted parole in 2010 but remained incarcerated after that decision was reversed by then California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Manson became one of the 20th century’s most infamous criminals in the summer of 1969, when he directed his mostly young, female followers to murder seven people in what prosecutors said was part of a plan to incite a race war.

Among the victims was actress Sharon Tate, the pregnant wife of film-maker Roman Polanski. She was stabbed 16 times by members of the cult in August 1969. Four other people were also stabbed or shot to death at Tate's home that night. Davis did not take part in these murders.

Manson, now 79, he is serving a life sentence at Corcoran State Priso. He has been repeatedly denied parole. – (Reuters)