Bhagwan women jailed for five years over US murder plot
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.United States judge yesterday sentenced two British women to five years in prison each for conspiring to murder the US Attorney for the state of Oregon while members of the Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh "free-love" cult 10 years ago.
The two women, Sally-Anne Croft, 45, and Susan Hagan, 48, were convicted four months ago by an Oregon jury of helping to hatch a plot at the Bhagwan's sprawling compound in the centre of the state, known as "Rancho Rajneesh", to assassinate the then federal Attorney, Charles Turner.
The sentence, delivered by Judge Malcolm Marsh in an emotional hearing in court, was considerably more lenient than most had expected. Technically, the pair could have been imprisoned for life, although that was never thought likely. Both women will be able to seek parole after serving just one-third of their sentences but can expect to serve two-thirds. They will begin their sentences next month, probably in a low-security camp in Washington State. They will remain free on bail until then.
Even as he began reading his statement explaining the factors in his considerations, Judge Marsh indicated he still had not decided finally on the length of the sentences. He said that while the crime committed was "most serious indeed" he had been swayed by some 50 letters of support sent to the court by friends and supporters of the women since their conviction.
"I do have a sense from the letters I have received of support that the defendants have confronted and have considered what they were involved in and I sense they believe that it is something that they would have better have avoided," the Judge concluded.
Hagan thanked the judge for allowing her to stay free pending the sentencing. In recent weeks she has been working on an Aids project. "Your generosity in allowing me to stay out on bail has allowed me in some small way to give back to the community," she said
Yesterday marked the climax of five years of legal battles for the two women. They had returned to Britain in 1985 after abandoning the cult shortly before it fell apart and the white-bearded Bhagwan, famed for his fleet of 94 Rolls Royces, fled to his native India, where he later died.
When the US government revealed in 1990 that it was seeking to extradite the women in 1990 to stand trial in Oregon, they earned the support of several high-profile British figures, including MPs such as Tony Blair and Paddy Ashdown. The extradition request was finally granted by the Home Secretary, Michael Howard, in 1994.
The assassination plan arose because Mr Turner was leading a grand jury inquiry into allegations of mass immigration fraud on Rancho Rajneesh. The ranch's inner circle, which included both Croft and Hagan were apparently concerned that his investigations threatened the continued existence of the cult and had to be stopped.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments