Charles Manson Marriage Thing Sounds Familiar

ABC News reports that convicted murderer Charles Manson has obtained a marriage license and is planning to marry a 26-year-old woman named Afton “Star” Burton. Manson is 80 years old and has been incarcerated since 1969. For almost a decade, Burton, who got the nickname “Star” from Manson, has been in contact with him and says she is in love with him and wants to help exonerate him for the crimes he has been convicted of.

Manson was convicted in 1969 as ringleader in connection with the murders of actress, Sharon Tate, the pregnant wife of director Roman Polanski; writer Wojciech Frykowski; coffee heiress Abigail Folger; celebrity hair stylist Jay Sebring; and Steven Parent; supermarket executive Leno LaBianca and his wife, Rosemary. Members of Manson’s so-called “Family” committed the actual murders. At trial, Prosecutor Vincent Bugliosi conceded in his closing argument that there was no evidence showing that Manson actually murdered any of the victims himself but he was guilty of all seven murders because of “the joint responsibility rule of conspiracy”.

Manson and Burton have until February 2015 to get married in the prison. According to Burton’s mother, the prison sets the date. She cannot be there, but she supports her daughter’s decision.

It all sounds eerily similar to another notorious killer who got married while serving a life sentence in a Nepalese prison: Charles Sobhraj, also known as “the Serpent” or “Bikini Killer”. In 2008, the then 64-year-old convict married a 20-year-old woman named Nihita Biswas, with her mother’s support.

Although believed to be responsible for the deaths of at least 20 people, Sobhraj was only convicted of one in 2004, the 1975 murder of American tourist, Connie Jo Bronzich. Like Manson, Sobhraj had several followers who were accomplices in his criminal activities. Biswas was fully convinced of his innocence and seemed to believe that he would be released and they would go to France together. A 2010 appeal on the 2004 conviction failed and Biswas did a stint on a reality TV, Bigg Boss 5, still professing her love and loyalty. In September 2014, Sobhraj was convicted of the murder of Canadian tourist, Laurent Carriere. He is now 70 years old and won’t be getting out any time soon.

Both Charles are fathers from prior relationships. Manson has a grandson who is planning to attend the marriage ceremony.