Brae Hansen, 37, has been granted parole in California, nearly 20 years after she helped plan the murder of her stepfather, Timothy MacNeil, when she was 17. The case matters because changes to California law now allow people who committed offences before age 25 to seek parole, despite Hansen originally receiving a 25-years-to-life sentence without parole.

Court records say Hansen and her sibling, Aerith Asora, planned to make the killing appear to be a home invasion after MacNeil said Hansen would need to move out at 18. On 19 July 2007, Asora shot MacNeil four times at the family home in San Diego, while Hansen staged being restrained; her later reference to “Nathan” tying her hands exposed the plan. Hansen’s parole was granted on 21 August 2026, while Asora has not been granted parole.