Monday, March 27, 2017

What became of the "Hare Krishna" who burned Manson?

Some of you might recall these tabloid photos from 1994 when Manson was doused with lighter fluid and set ablaze:



We were curious as to what became of him:

Man Ruled Insane In Temple Stabbing

Thaai Walker, Chronicle Staff Writer Published 4:00 am, Saturday, December 2, 1995

Jan Holmstrom sat in a Hall of Justice courtroom yesterday in shackles the sheriff's department reserves for those considered too volatile for simple manacles.

A thick chain ran around his waist, connected to two handcuffs that bound his hands together in front of him, then looped down his body to his feet, cinching them so that the 47-year-old man could only walk in small, shuffling steps.

But Holmstrom was not the image of the raving paranoid schizophrenic that those who know him claim he can be. Having received psychiatric treatment while in jail, he sat calm and composed and listened intently as Superior Court Judge Lenard Louie pronounced that Holmstrom was not guilty by reason of insanity for the stabbing of a man inside a Cole Valley Hare Krishna temple in November 1994 -- an act Holmstrom has said he did for his God.

For a man whose life has been marked by violent acts committed against himself and others, including the shotgun slaying of his father in Pasadena over 20 years ago, the judge's finding was the most humane decision that could have been made, Holmstrom's lawyer said.

The ruling, which Louie based on the recommendations of three psychiatrists, means that Holmstrom will not be sent to prison for his crime. Instead, he will go to a high security mental facility that Holmstrom's lawyer hopes will provide him with extensive psychiatric care.

"We would not be where we are now, if Mr. Holmstrom had gotten the proper treatment the first time he got violent," said his defense lawyer Sheila O'Gara. "The mentally ill fall through the cracks. They don't belong is the criminal justice system, but there is no other system to put them in. The government has shirked its responsibility."

While Holmstrom was awaiting trial on the charges of assault with a deadly weapon and burglary for the Nov. 26, 1994 attack at the Hare Krishna temple, O'Gara and prosecutor George Beckwith came to agree that state prison was not the right place for Holmstrom.

Holmstrom was not given proper psychiatric care or medication for his illness, when he was serving time for the 1974 slaying of his father, O'Gara said. In prison, he sent death threats to family members and attacked guards and prisoners -- including fellow inmate, cult leader Charles Manson, whom he set on fire.

If the 1994 case had gone to a jury trial and Holmstrom had been convicted on the charges, the outcome would be the same as his earlier trip through the justice system, O'Gara said. He would be sent to prison, receive no psychiatric care, later be paroled and, without supervision, probably become violent again, she said.

Under Louie's ruling yesterday, however, Holmstrom can be incarcerated for as many as 25 years. His release will depend on the opinion of psychiatrists who will evaluate him periodically.

"Whatever sins were committed by Jan Holmstrom he has suffered like the damned. It is the curse of mental illness," O'Gara said. "Because he is medicated now, he is aware and living in a state of remorse. But every day he has to live inside his own head. Every day he has to live with Jan Holmstrom."


27 comments:

David said...

Makes me wonder what might have happened if defense counsel had done their jobs and pled insanity, especially Part for LVH.

grimtraveller said...

Well, what did happen to Holmstrom ?

Robert C said...

The implication is he was moved out of prison into a psychiatric ward. Presumably he's there and for life. Could Manson have sued the prison system for the attack like allowing a known psycho and murderer access to him with dangerous fuel and etc. ?

cielodrivecom said...

He is not within the cdcr

Matt said...

There is no death certificate that we could find and he is no longer incarcerated. As Robert C discerned, we believe he is in the hospital system as a mental patient.


ColScott said...

I believe he sometimes posts on this board

Matt said...

Wouldn't surprise me.


Mr. Humphrat said...

The temple stabbing reminds me of George Harrison being stabbed in his home by the mentally deranged man and Harrison chanting Hare Krishna or something he would chant during the attack. I actually like the picture of Charlie looking at the camera because it captures his essence.

Jenn said...

Maybe he's my neighbor at Atascadero State Hospital.

cielodrivecom said...

Actually Hump, the powers that determined Manson was the aggressor and Jan was acting in self defense

CieloDrive.com said...

*powers that be

Shorty's pistols said...

Charlie is full of shit, but man he is a tough old bird. 3rd degree burns on the face and he can still manage a wry smile.

HellzBellz said...

https://www.google.nl/search?q=Slachtoffers+cafe+hemeltje+volendam&client=firefox-b&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwj-ipD27_vSAhVLAsAKHZLuBOYQ_AUICCgB&biw=1280&bih=691#imgrc=nFFylGT1zEhHeM:

/www.google.nl/search?q=Slachtoffers+cafe+hemeltje+volendam&client=firefox-b&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwj-ipD27_vSAhVLAsAKHZLuBOYQ_AUICCgB&biw=1280&bih=691#imgrc=zMlCWgwONDm3pM:

This story of Manson suffering from severe burn-wounds, Third&Second Degree Burns on the face,always left some questions for me. I.E. On New Years eve Party in a Cafe in Volendam Netherlands there was a fire leaving 14 Death and 180 wounded. The Link/URL I did send above shows some fotos of Victims on the 10year aniversairy of the Fire... Now THATS what 2nd&3th degree burning does to your Face.... And yet Manson gives interviews a few years later where we can see NO scars AT ALL.... strange

Mr. Humphrat said...

Shorty's pistols said: "Charlie is full of shit, but man he is a tough old bird. 3rd degree burns on the face and he can still manage a wry smile."

Yes he looks defiant, reminds me of Deniro as Max Cady in Cape Fear or Jimmy Cagney looking someone in the eye defiantly.

Cielo I didn't know Manson was the aggressor in that attack, but I was referring to Jan Holstrom's stabbing of a man inside a Cole Valley Hare Krishna temple

beauders said...

facial hair I believe covers the burns on his face. I believe I read somewhere that his upper body is pretty scarred up. Does anyone have a picture of Jan Holmstrom they could post?

Robert C said...

Here's a link with a pic plus more info. - hope the oligarchy of MFB don't mind.

http://www.lsb3.com/2014/01/eventually-everybody-meets-their-match.html

I always heard his long hair and beard helped prevent more serious head burns, and he's recovered very well.

orwhut said...

My grand daughter was born this week. So far my son has named one dog and one daughter Sadie. Ooo-eee-ooo

Mr. Humphrat said...

congratulations Orwhut! :)

Patty is Dead said...

Yes congrats whut!

grimtraveller said...

David said...

Makes me wonder what might have happened if defense counsel had done their jobs and pled insanity, especially Part for LVH

Well, Part was trying that for LVH. He clearly thought she was insane. I've never been aware of any consent on her part to go along with it. She later said she had an attorney that "had his own ideas about" how to get her off which indicates she wasn't in agreement with him. She didn't consider herself insane so even though Charlie persuaded her to get rid of Part and she did, it was consistent with her own feelings at the time. All of which has made things awkward for her in future years when addressing her mental state at the time of the murders.
Whereas Jan Holmstrom, whether insane or not, it's pretty clear from the length of time between his actions that have landed him inside, he is not a safe bet to let out on the streets. There are some people that you just stop taking chances with in terms of being out with the rest of society and he seems to be one of them.

Matt said...

Congratulations Orwhut! That's GREAT news!


brownrice said...

Congrats Orwhut. Being a grandparent is one of the best parts of growing old. Personally, I dreaded it... until it happened.

And remember... our job is to fill 'em full of sugar & red food colouring and send 'em home :-)

orwhut said...

Thanks everybody, for the good wishes. It'll take a while before I quit thinking of the dog and Ms Glutz when I say her name.
Whut

Robert C said...

Orwhut a granddaddy ? Who woulda thunk ? Congratulations fellow old timer ;-)

Unknown said...

Congrats on your good news :)

Robert C said...

Can one of the oligarchs please change out this thread for the next. Getting tired logging on and having Manson's fugly burned face in mine. I suspect the others might feel the same. Thanks.

orwhut said...

Thanks to all again for the good wishes. I wouldn't have mentioned it had they not named her the same thing as the one who spilled the beans,