SAN DIEGO (CNS) - A woman convicted along with her sister of first-degree murder for arranging the slaying of her stepfather in San Diego, then staging the killing to look like a home invasion robbery, was granted parole today.
Brae Hansen, 37, was serving a 25-year-to-life sentence for the 2007 killing of local attorney Timothy MacNeil, but was able to receive an early parole hearing under the state's youth offender parole laws for people serving sentences of at least 15 years for crimes committed before their 26th birthday.
Hansen was 17 years old at the time of the killing and was initially sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Her sentence was later changed to 25 years to life after life without parole sentences were deemed unconstitutional for juveniles.
Prosecutors say Hansen and her then-19-year-old sister Aerith Asora plotted the killing at the victim's Rolando home.
Asora wore a mask to appear like an armed intruder, then as part of the staged robbery plot instructed Hansen to zip-tie MacNeil. Hansen was also zip-tied to maintain the appearance of a robbery, prosecutors alleged.
MacNeil was able to free himself from his bonds, at which point Asora shot him four times, including twice in the head.
Hansen later called 911 and claimed a masked gunman shot her stepfather.
San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan, whose office opposed Hansen's release, said in a statement that the D.A.'s Office was "deeply disappointed" by the parole board's decision and that the killing's "sophisticated nature and callous depravity" placed it outside the intent of California's youth offender parole.
"Our office stood with Mr. MacNeil's family and opposed Hansen's release, and we will continue to support them as they face the painful consequences of this decision,'' Stephan said.
Hansen was denied parole last year for a three-year period, but the San Diego County District Attorney's Office says state prison officials granted Hansen's request to advance her next parole hearing to Friday.
Asora was sentenced to 25 years to life in prison and also received an expedited parole hearing, but parole was denied last year.
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