California Gov. Gavin Newsom's office on Friday announced it will not challenge a May state appellate court's panel ruling that opened the possibility of parole for Leslie Van Houten, a former Charles Manson follower and convicted murderer.
Van Houten is serving concurrent sentences of seven years to life after she was convicted in 1971 for her role in the killings of supermarket executive Leno LaBianca and his wife, Rosemary, at their home.
"More than 50 years after the Manson cult committed these brutal offenses, the victims' families still feel the impact, as do all Californians. Governor Newsom reversed Ms. Van Houten's parole grant three times since taking office and defended against her challenges of those decisions in court," Erin Mellon, a spokesperson for the governor, said in a statement Friday.
"The Governor is disappointed by the Court of Appeal's decision to release Ms. Van Houten but will not pursue further action as efforts to further appeal are unlikely to succeed. The California Supreme Court accepts appeals in very few cases, and generally does not select cases based on this type of fact-specific determination," the statement adds.
Van Houten and her team are "thrilled" with the announcement, Nancy Tetreault, Van Houten's attorney, told CNN.
"She's just grateful that her rehabilitation, her hard work toward reforming her thinking, understanding the causative factors that led her to be influenced by Manson ... She's grateful that the court of appeals recognizes that," Tetreault said.
Van Houten will be released on parole pending a final behavioral hearing, with the exact date to be kept confidential for her safety, according to Tetreault.
CNN has reached out to the California Board of Parole Hearings for comment.
