A California appeals court said Tuesday that Leslie Van Houten, who participated in two killings at the direction of cult leader Charles Manson in 1969, should be let out of prison on parole.

The appellate court’s ruling reverses an earlier decision by Gov. Gavin Newsom, who rejected parole for Van Houten in 2020. She has been recommended for parole five times since 2016. All of those recommendations were rejected by either Newsom or former California Gov. Jerry Brown.

Newsom could request that California Attorney General Rob Bonta petition the California Supreme Court to stop her release. Bonta’s office referred requests for comment to Newsom’s office, which didn’t respond to questions about possible next steps.

[The Manson Family murderers are where they belong. When Leno and Rosemary LaBianca can appear and endorse parole, then let her out. Van Houten silenced them forever, so let her — and every other murderer, especially of the evil-cult ilk — do their full terms in prison. — Ed]