Parole hearing postponed by Van Houten's request

Leslie Van Houten was convicted for her role in the Manson family's 1969 murders of Leno and Rosemary LaBianca and of conspiracy to commit murder in actress Sharon Tate's slaying. (AP Photo)

FRONTERA, Calif. (Court TV)— Leslie Van Houten said her parole hearing has turned into a circus and that it "has gotten too big" for her to handle without an attorney.

"I feel like I'm part of this circus," Van Houten said.

Van Houten said the media, and, in particular, a true crime author who maintains a website, were profiting from her story and therefore she did not want to proceed with the hearing. Van Houten said she objected to the presence of cameras and complained that author Bill Nelson was selling videotapes of her parole hearings on the Internet.

Wednesday's parole hearing would have been her 14th to date. Van Houten was convicted for her role in the Manson family's 1969 murders of Leno and Rosemary LaBianca and of conspiracy to commit murder in actress Sharon Tate's slaying. Devoted to Charles Manson's vision, the Manson family planned to blame the murders on African-Americans and start a race war. Originally sentenced to the death penalty, Van Houten's sentence was commuted to three concurrent life terms when the death penalty was abolished in California in 1972.

"I feel that this has gotten a little out of hand and I believe that there is really no reason for the camera to be in the board room when it's being somehow gotten to and sold for profit," Van Houten told the board Wednesday. "I believe that the Internet has become a place where there is a lot of exploiting of violence and this man [Bill Nelson] has a shopping list and I'm part of it, and if you allow the camera in here then I'm partaking in this, and I can't do this."

But critics suggest Van Houten's motives are not so noble. For the first time a member of the LaBianca family, Angela Smaldino, was at the hearing to object to Van Houten's parole. Smaldino did not get the chance to speak Wednesday and critics say her appearance led to Van Houten's request for postponement.

Bill Nelson responded to her charges by saying, "I have as much right to be here with a non-press pass as the lady to my right ... "

Nelson acknowledged that he believes Van Houten should not be paroled. "That's the problem," he said, "I'm against them and I'm friends with the victims' family." Nelson said that his website made very little money and that sometimes sales did not even cover the costs of production. While 1.5 million viewers have logged on in the past two years, Nelson said, only about "one half of one percent" actually buy anything.

Nelson ghostwrote a book with Alice LaBiana, the ex-wife of one of the victims, and worked as a consultant for Court TV on a segment about the Manson family killings.

After a short recess to discuss Van Houten's request, the parole board ruled that it was appropriate to postpone the hearing in order for Van Houten to seek counsel.

Hoping to be allowed to represent herself again at the next hearing, Van Houten only requested counsel to investigate improprieties surrounding the sale of her story. The board agreed and adjourned the hearing.

In 1977, Van Houten became the first Manson family member to receive a new trial when an appeals court ruled she had inadequate representation because her attorney died the night before closing arguments. Although her second trial ended in a hung jury, Van Houten was convicted again in her third trial and again received three concurrent life sentences with the possibility of parole.

Prison officials say Van Houten is no longer the devoted Manson disciple who once carved an X in her forehead to demonstrate her devotion. Since her incarceration, Van Houten has earned a Master's and Bachelor's degree. Van Houten works as an office clerk in prison, and according to officials, she has been a model prisoner who has never been the subject of a disciplinary report.

The date for the next parole hearing has yet to be determined.

— Michelle McAuley