California Governor Gavin Newsom has announced that he will not challenge an appellate court's ruling allowing the release of former Charles Manson follower Leslie Van Houten. Van Houten, now 73, is serving a potential life prison sentence for her involvement in the killings of Leno and Rosemary LaBianca more than 50 years ago. In a split ruling in May, a state appeals court panel reinstated a grant of parole for Van Houten, overturning an earlier decision by Newsom to block her release. The panel cited Van Houten's extraordinary rehabilitative efforts, insight, remorse, realistic parole plans, support from family and friends, and favorable institutional reports. Despite the governor's disappointment with the decision, his office stated that further appeals are unlikely to succeed. It is not yet clear when Van Houten will be released from prison, but her attorney has said that she could be freed in about two weeks. After her release, Van Houten will spend approximately a year in a halfway house to learn basic life skills.