BBC News Online: World: Americas

Manson loses parole bid

Manson refused to attend the hearing in handcuffs

He is serving a life sentence in Corcoran State Prison, California, for his role in a bloody 1969 rampage.

Mr Castro said Manson's application had been rejected because he had committed 17 "serious" infractions since his last parole board hearing five years ago.

They included "possession of a (blunt object) weapon and threatening to hurt or kill peace officers."

In 1997, Manson had been charged with arson after he tried to set his mattress on fire, Mr Castro said.

Manson is currently being held in solitary confinement to keep him away from the general prison population.

Bad record

Before the hearing, Los Angeles Assistant District Attorney Stephen Kay described Manson, 67, as a "terrible prisoner" with a history of hitting, spitting at, or throwing coffee on prison guards and other employees.

"He's really not much different than he was in 1969 or 1970," he said.

The head of the so-called "Manson family" was found guilty of ordering his followers to murder his victims during a two-day rampage in the Los Angeles area.

Manson hoped the killings would set off a race war.

His sentence was reduced to life imprisonment when the state Supreme Court ruled the death penalty unconstitutional.

California subsequently restored capital punishment.

Manson did not attend his hearing because he refused to appear in shackles.

"He refused to be handcuffed and stated that, if he could not go with his hands free, he would not attend," Mr Castro said.

"They asked him to attend up until the last minute (and) he refused."