Wednesday, July 16, 2008

Ailing Manson follower denied release from prison

Susan Atkins, a terminally ill former Charles Manson follower convicted in the murder of actress Sharon Tate, on Tuesday was denied a compassionate release from prison.

Atkins, 60, has been diagnosed with brain cancer and has had a leg amputated, her attorney said. In June, she requested the release, available to terminally ill inmates with less than six months to live.

Read more...

Perhaps the reason for denying the request to die outside of the confines of prison can be found in the comment from Virginia Graham - "She showed that poor woman absolutely no mercy, none," "So why should anybody show her mercy at this time?"

It is clear that Atkins represents no threat to the community. The only issue, from my perspective, is the lack of compassion for her because of her crimes. My answer to the question proposed by Graham is that society should be better than the condemned person. If not, why have a society at all?

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