Charles Manson associate Bruce Davis granted parole

Bruce Davis, a convicted murderer who once served as an associate of Charles Manson, was granted parole from his California prison cell — though whether he will actually go free is still a matter to be decided.

Davis was imprisoned in 1972 on a life sentence for the first-degree murder of musician Gary Hinman and of stuntman Donald “Shorty” Shea, CNN reported.

The state Board of Parole Hearings granted him parole on Wednesday. But the board doesn’t have the final say. The grant must still go through an internal review, which can last 120 days. Following, Gov. Jerry Brown then gets 30 days to give his stamp of approval to the decision, CNN reported.

So at best, Davis can’t be released for four months — and that’s only if all goes in his favor. In fact, he’s been on that path of paroled release twice before, in 2010 and in 2012. Both times, his release was overturned by the sitting governors, CNN reported.

But if he is released this time, Davis will go down in history as the first Manson “family” associate to see freedom due to good behavior, CNN reported. Manson, who’s serving a life sentence for nine murders, roped in several followers who helped carry out gruesome killings that then became the subject of the best-seller, “Helter Skelter.”