Manson Associate Bruce Davis Granted Parole

Convicted killer and former Charles Manson associate Bruce Davis was granted parole, officials from the state prison system said on Wednesday.

The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation’s Board of Parole Hearings granted the order for Davis, 71.

Debra Tate, whose sister, actress Sharon Tate, was stabbed to death by Manson followers in 1969, said "today was a very bad day."

Kay Martley, the cousin of Gary Hinman, who was killed by Davis, spoke at the hearing.

"I think he's forgotten the terror and everything he brought to other people," Martley said. "I see an old man who says what he thinks we should hear."

Michael Beckman, Davis' attorney, said he thinks his client, if he is released, will return to Los Angeles County.

"I told the board, 'If he isn't the most rehabilitated inmate I've represented, he's the second most,'" Beckman said.

The decision was made during a parole consideration hearing at California Men’s Colony in San Luis Obispo.

The decision was the result of Davis' 28th parole suitability hearing.

The suitability finding is subject to a 120-day decision review period.

If the grant is finalized at the conclusion of decision review, the governor may conduct an independent review of the decision.

Under California law, the governor has 30 days to reverse, modify, affirm or decline to review the Board’s decision.

Davis was sent to state prison on April 21, 1972, with a life sentence from Los Angeles County for two counts of first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder and robbery.

He was convicted for the July 25, 1969, murder of Gary Hinman and the murder of Donald “Shorty” Shea sometime in August 1969.

Davis has been granted parole twice – in January 2010 and again in October 2012.

Davis’ first parole grant was reversed by former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger in June 2010.

Davis challenged the reversal in court, but it was upheld in 2012. Gov. Jerry Brown reversed Davis’ second parole grant on March 1, 2013.

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