Susan Atkins is 61, has terminal brain cancer, and is paralyzed over 85% percent of her body. However, she was just denied parole from her life sentence in prison. Has she paid for her crime? The victim's sister doesn't think so, and she says Atkins staying in prison for life is the least that can be done.
I guess both sides have a point. No, Atkins isn't exactly a threat to society anymore, so what harm would it do to release her? Hasn't she served enough?
But, on the other side, you have the sister of Sharon Tate, victim of one of the most horrific murder scenes in recent memory. Susan Atkins was part of the infamous Manson Family that went on a murderous spree in 1969. I can see why she wouldn't want Atkins out, paralyzed or not.
Athough, I guess one could argue that Debra Tate should "move on" with her life and take solace that the family members have stayed in jail for as long as they have (they let Squeaky Fromme out recently, but she wasn't involved in the murders). It seems almost an unhealthy obsession 40 years later to be arguing for more prison time.
But then again, I read the excellent book about the case, "Helter Skelter," and remember Atkins describing how she held down the very pregnant Sharon Tate as she pleaded for her life and that of her unborn baby, but to no avail as she was stabbed multiple times.
We'll leave this one to the parole board.
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