By Kevin Swenson
CNN reports that notorious cult leader and convicted murderer, Charles Manson, will soon be married to his now fiance, Afton Burton, also known as Star. Manson and Star have been in contact for several years after Star moved to the town of Corcoran where Manson is serving his life sentence at the Corcoran State Prison.
Charles Manson, known for his self-carved Swastika on his forehead, was found guilty back in 1971 for under the clause of joint-responsibility rule, which allows the court to charge someone with a crime if the evidence is sufficient enough to find the person equally responsible for the actions as the person originally in question was. In this case, Manson had created a commune named the Manson Family, who’s members were also charged with the murders of actress Sharon Tate and four others in her home as well as Leno and Rosemary LaBianca. The Court found that Manson, having been the head of the Manson Family, was responsible for these deaths of these 7 people and was sentence to death. However, California had at the time repealed their death penalty laws and thus Manson was sentenced to, and still continues to serve, a life sentence in prison. Manson, since his arrest, has become a high interest topic for many in the psychological field as he is credited for being influential enough to convince someone to murder for his cause.
According to Jeffery Callison, a spokesperson for the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, the ceremony will happen on a visiting time for Manson. Since Manson still serves a life sentence, he and Star can only hug as he is still bound by the rules of the prison. The couple will be allowed up to 10 guests from outside the prison, an officiant of their choosing, and two more guests from within the prison, CNN reports.
However, there is not as much cheer as there normally is with weddings, starting with the bride’s own mother. The New York Post reports that Melissa Burton will not be attendance to her daughters wedding with Manson. Burton believes, despite the marriage, this occasion does not “exactly call for flowers and fancy registries”
Burton told the Post, “I know [Manson] has made lots of bad choices, but I don’t think he is dangerous. The media has made him into more of a monster than he is…”
Manson’s bride to be also commented on the wedding to CNN stating that she is going to try and get Manson’s sentence revoked and free him. Star argues that Manson had nothing to do with the mass murders in 1969 that he was convicted for and that “I’m completely with him, and he’s completely with me. It’s what I was born for, you know. I don’t know what else to say.” Star also continues to run Manson’s website which has been operation for more than a decade.
The couple has 90 days to take action given their marriage license approval where, after the 90 days, they will have to reapply for the license. There has been no date set for the wedding and there will be no photography done by the media whenever the couple weds.
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