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Manson Murderer Bobby Beausoleil Denied Parole Again
Bobby Beausoleil during his trial. (Photo by Jim Ober via the Los Angeles Public Library photo collection)
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Another member of the Manson Family, Bobby Beausoleil, has been denied parole. This was the 18th time for him. Beausoleil was sentenced to death in 1970 for the death of Gary Hinman, the first victim in Manson's series of murders in 1969. His sentence was commuted to a life sentence in 1972 when the California Supreme Court ruled the death penalty unconstitutional.
"There's absolutely no doubt in my mind, if released, Bobby will be just a model citizen," Beausoleil's attorney Jason Campbell told the Associated Press. "I think he's a very insightful and introspective person, and there is nothing about him that is dangerous."
Beausoleil was with fellow Family members Susan Atkins and Mary Brunner when they killed Gary Hinman at his home in Topanga Canyon on July 25, 1969. They committed the killing under orders from Charles Manson, and it was said to be the first of the "Helter Skelter" murders. However, Beausoleil would later say that it was over money.
Beausoleil was arrested a few weeks later on August 6, when he was found in Hinman's car in San Luis Obispo County. He was in prison when Sharon Tate and Leno LaBianca were murdered by other Family members.
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"He killed, murdered my cousin and it was gruesome. Three days they kept him and tortured him," Hinman's cousin Kay Martley told the AP. "All of this just comes back, even after 47 years."
According to City News Service, this is the 18th time Beausoleil has been denied parole. Among the reasons for this was because he was recording and selling music in prison without permission from California officials, reports the AP.
Before the Manson murders, Beausoleil was in band with Arthur Lee called the Grass Roots. They would later go on to be known as Love.
Beausoleil can seek parole again in three years.
Leslie Van Houten, another Family member, was also denied parole earlier this summer.
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