Photo: Universal
A former actor whotried to murder his girlfriendwas released from a California prison on Thursday, PEOPLE confirms.
Three years after appearing in the hit film, Malil, 53, stabbed his then-girlfriend 23 times in an attack her originally claimed was a case of mistaken identity on his part.
He served the full minimum term, Luis Patino, spokesman for the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, told PEOPLE. The conditions of his parole were not public.
The day after his release, his former girlfriend Kendra Beebe, who he stabbed repeatedly, appeared onGood Morning Americaand said she doesn’t feel safe.
“I will always have to watch my back for the rest of my life,” she said.
California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation
On Aug. 10, 2008, Beebe was talking with a friend on her back patio when Malil arrived and immediately stabbed her in her torso.
“When I was going to give him a hug, he pulled out his hand and just started stabbing me,” she told GMA.
During his trial, the actor testified he thought he was stabbing someone else in self-defense on a night that he couldn’t remember clearly. It wasn’t until hearing Beebe shout, “Call 911!” that Malil said he realized she was the one he was stabbing.
Good Morning America/Twitter
“That’s the first time I look and see it’s Kendra I’m fighting with,” he said at trial.
Earlier this year, Malil appeared in front of a California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation panel and told a different story.
Jerod Harris/Getty
Malil continued to stab her with a broken wine glass and another knife he took from her kitchen, and attempted to smother her with a pillow. Beebe suffered 23 deep puncture wounds during the attack and the flesh on her chin was nearly sliced off. Her arm was almost severed as well.
Last month, the department approved his parole with a unanimous decision, according to the newspaper, whose reporter attended the hearing.
The panel agreed Malil posed a low risk of committing violence in the future, the paper reported.
According to theUnion-Tribune, Malil apologized and took full responsibility for his actions. He claimed to have been an “emotional time bomb” at the time of the attack because he was suffering from professional and financial distress.
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“I am fully invested in my rehabilitation and I never want to create another victim again,” the paper reported he said at his hearing.
San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan issued a statement Tuesday saying she is “disappointed” that Malil is being released after serving eight years in prison.
“We agree with the Governor that Malil demonstrated uncontrolled rage and lacks an understanding of his crime,” Stephan wrote. “The victims have endured tremendous physical and emotional pain. To approve this individual for release, given his violent attack, ignores the very real danger he poses to public safety.”
source: people.com
