Manson Follower Bruce Davis' Parole Overturned

A former member of the murderous Charles Manson family cult - who has served more than 40 years in prison - has been denied parole.

California Governor Jerry Brown overturned the recommendation of a parole board that had recently approved the release of 70-year-old Bruce Davis.

The governor had the final say on Davis' release.

Mr Brown announced his decision after a meeting with Los Angeles District Attorney Jackie Lacey.

"I find the evidence ... shows why he currently poses a danger to society if released from prison. Therefore, I reverse the decision to parole Mr Davis," Mr Brown said in a written opinion.

Davis would have been just the second Manson-related convict to be granted parole since the infamous killing spree began in 1969.

He was convicted along with Manson and others in the murders of musician Gary Hinman and stuntman Donald "Shorty" Shea.

Steve Grogan, another participant in those murders, was released many years ago after he led police to the remote movie ranch where the bodies were buried.

Davis was not involved in the notorious murder of Sharon Tate, the wife of film director Roman Polanski, who was more than eight months pregnant when she was killed along with four other people in her home.

Davis, who was 30 when he was sentenced to life in prison in 1972, said for years he was a bystander in the two killings. But he recently has acknowledged sharing responsibility because he was present for the crime.

California's previous governor, Arnold Schwarzenegger, rejected Davis' previous parole date in 2010, citing the heinous nature of his crimes and deciding that he was still a danger to society.

Davis became a born-again Christian in prison and married a woman he met through the prison ministry.

The couple, who recently divorced, have a grown-up daughter.

Davis also earned a master's degree and a doctorate in philosophy of religion.

Manson and three members of his communal cult dubbed the Manson family - Leslie Van Houten, Patricia Krenwinkel and Charles "Tex" Watson - remain in prison for life over the Tate killings.

Co-defendant Susan Atkins died in prison of cancer in 2009.

Manson's apocalyptic cult committed a series of murders in upscale, mostly white neighbourhoods of Los Angeles in the hope of sparking a race war.