Van Houten was unrepentant during her trial in 1971, notoriously giggling during testimony about attacking the victims, and at one point, when asked if she felt sorrow or shame for the death of Rosemary LaBianca, replied “sorry is only a five-letter word” and “you can’t undo something that is done”.
Alongside fellow Manson family defendants Susan Atkins and Patricia Krenwinkel, van Houten carved an X in her forehead after Charles Manson did the same at his trial. She regularly insisted that Manson had been involved in planning the murders and sacked three defence lawyers who claimed she was controlled by the cult leader.
From left, Patricia Krenwinkel, Susan Atkins and Leslie Van Houten leave a Los Angeles courtroom in 1971 after being found guilty of murder.Credit:Pool AP
Convicted and sentenced to be executed in 1971, at 20 years of age she was the youngest woman ever condemned to death in California. Her sentence was later commuted to life.
Van Houten has had 21 parole hearings since 1982. Most parole boards denied her bid for freedom. But five panels have recommended her release since 2016, saying she had expressed remorse and was no longer a threat to public safety.
