Manson killer with brain cancer seeks early release

[Nagishkaw 510]

Diagnosed with terminal brain cancer and confined to state prison on a life sentence, Susan Atkins, 59, is asking to be released on "compassionate" grounds. Atkins and other followers of Charles Manson killed five people in 1969, including actress Sharon Tate.

By Los Angeles Times and The Associated Press

Susan Atkins, in a 1969 photo, said she stabbed Sharon Tate repeatedly.

LOS ANGELES — On a night in 1969, Susan Atkins and other followers of Charles Manson burst into a Benedict Canyon mansion and proceeded to taunt, torture and kill the five people inside.

Actress Sharon Tate, 8 ½ months' pregnant with the son of director Roman Polanski, begged one of the knife-wielding killers to spare her life. The attacker was Susan Atkins, and her response was cold.

"She asked me to let her baby live," Atkins told parole officials in 1993. "I told her I didn't have mercy for her."

Almost 40 years later, it's Atkins asking for mercy.

Diagnosed with terminal brain cancer and confined to state prison on a life sentence, Atkins, 59, is asking to be released from state prison on "compassionate" grounds.

After stabbing and killing Tate on Aug. 9., 1969, Atkins tasted the actress's blood and used it to write "PIG" on the front door. During the more than nine-month trial, Atkins showed no remorse and utter devotion to Manson. Debra Tate, the actress's sister and only surviving relative, said neither Atkins nor the other Manson killers deserve to be released.

"They are serial killers, and ... they need to stay incarcerated," she said. "People don't just become cured from being sociopaths."

Atkins has been in state prison for 37 years, longer than any other woman currently incarcerated. Her request for a compassionate release has been approved by the California Institution for Women in Corona, where she had been housed from April 23, 1971, to March 18 this year, when she was admitted to a hospital.

Officials determined her request should be considered because of her illness. The state parole board is expected take up the case in the coming months. If the board approves her release, a Los Angeles Superior Court judge would have to sign off on it.

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nati...6_manson15.html

[Saddle Bronc 124]

I agree with Debra Tate on this issue!

[Nagishkaw 510]

Yep.

[almaty 19]

i agree...the crimes were horrendous and people change but coldness of the act deserves no mercy years later, regardless of the situation

[Ban Hammer 14,273]

let her out.

send her to almaty's house for treatment

[almaty 19]

let her out.

send her to almaty's house for treatment

yikes, i certainly show her some helther skelter

[Nagishkaw 510]

Would it be coming down fast?

[Sinergy 3]

She deserves no compassion, she showed none to Sharon Tate and her BABY, there for Atkins can rot in hell for all i care.

[almaty 19]

Would it be coming down fast?

I'm coming down fast, but I'm miles above you

Tell me, tell me tell me, c'mon tell me the answer

Well you may be a lover but you ain't no dancer.

[panamania79 2]

She deserves no compassion, she showed none to Sharon Tate and her BABY, there for Atkins can rot in hell for all i care.

Exactly !

[zqt3344 21]

Put her sorry Manson loving ####### in the electric chair and let her fry! Save our taxpayers of California some money for a change and not waste it on healthcare for a scumbag!

Diagnosed with terminal brain cancer and confined to state prison on a life sentence, Susan Atkins, 59, is asking to be released on "compassionate" grounds. Atkins and other followers of Charles Manson killed five people in 1969, including actress Sharon Tate.

By Los Angeles Times and The Associated Press

Susan Atkins, in a 1969 photo, said she stabbed Sharon Tate repeatedly.

LOS ANGELES — On a night in 1969, Susan Atkins and other followers of Charles Manson burst into a Benedict Canyon mansion and proceeded to taunt, torture and kill the five people inside.

Actress Sharon Tate, 8 ½ months' pregnant with the son of director Roman Polanski, begged one of the knife-wielding killers to spare her life. The attacker was Susan Atkins, and her response was cold.

"She asked me to let her baby live," Atkins told parole officials in 1993. "I told her I didn't have mercy for her."

Almost 40 years later, it's Atkins asking for mercy.

Diagnosed with terminal brain cancer and confined to state prison on a life sentence, Atkins, 59, is asking to be released from state prison on "compassionate" grounds.

After stabbing and killing Tate on Aug. 9., 1969, Atkins tasted the actress's blood and used it to write "PIG" on the front door. During the more than nine-month trial, Atkins showed no remorse and utter devotion to Manson. Debra Tate, the actress's sister and only surviving relative, said neither Atkins nor the other Manson killers deserve to be released.

"They are serial killers, and ... they need to stay incarcerated," she said. "People don't just become cured from being sociopaths."

Atkins has been in state prison for 37 years, longer than any other woman currently incarcerated. Her request for a compassionate release has been approved by the California Institution for Women in Corona, where she had been housed from April 23, 1971, to March 18 this year, when she was admitted to a hospital.

Officials determined her request should be considered because of her illness. The state parole board is expected take up the case in the coming months. If the board approves her release, a Los Angeles Superior Court judge would have to sign off on it.

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nati...6_manson15.html

[Amby 490]

I'm not saying that she shouldn't stay in prison because I think she should, but how long has she had the cancer? I don't know much about cancer so I was just curious if she could have had a tumor that changed in behavior all those years ago and made her act that way? My friend's dad had a tumor and it was almost overnight that he went from normal to completely nutty.

Edited June 17, 2008 by Amby

[Nagishkaw 510]

In her case it would have to be from completely nutty to normal.

[Peikko 1,575]

One of the the differences between psycopaths and normal human beings is that, the normal human being is capable of compassion. So, because a psycopath does not show compassion for their victim should that mean that we show no compassion for the psycopath? In my book, this is what seperates one for the other and yes, we should.

However, the question really is, in what way should our compassion translate to the treatment of this prisoner? Luckily for us, we are not in a position to actually decide because these decisions are necessarily difficult and require great understanding of not only the law but also the human condition - would that we were all Superior Court Judges eh?

For my part, I am content to allow the appointed Judge to make that decision for me and if, in his or her wisdom, he/she chooses to allow this person to mete out their last days (lest we forget this person is terminally ill with a condition that in all honesty must have reduced her to little more than a shell of a human being) in a place of their own or as is rather more likely the choosing of her family and relatives, then so be it. I can not see any merit in enjoying her suffering, any more than I see merit in allowing anyone to enjoy the suffering of others.

That the relatives of the victims see things with a more jaded eye is hardly surprising. Their experience is totally different. Anyone who has no direct connection with what is obviously an extreme and harrowing experience is a mere voyeur. We can not, nor should we try, to project ourselves directly into their shoes. That serves no useful purpose for either the victims, the relatives or society at large.

Edited June 17, 2008 by Purple_Hibiscus

[Krikit 1,166]

In her case it would have to be from completely nutty to normal.