Beausoleil Loses in Bid for New Trial; Given Sentence
Tuesday, June 16th, 1970
LOS ANGELES, Jun. 16 – Robert Beausoleil, an associate of the Manson “family,” lost his bid for a new trial yesterday and was formally sentenced to die for the murder of musician Gary Hinman.
Mary Brunner, the cult member who kept changing her testimony, was jailed for contempt of court and threatened with possible prosecution as an accomplice in the murder last July.
The developments came during — and immediately after — another stormy, raucous hearing marked by courtroom outbursts by both Beausoleil and Miss Brunner.
Miss Brunner, one of Charles Manson’s girl friends, made a last-minute effort to change her testimony yet again. At one point she used the phrase “jackass statements” to describe comments made on Friday by Superior Court Judge William B. Keene.
Beausoleil, meanwhile, spoke in Biblical tones as he hurled defiance at the judge.
“He who judges his brother shall be judged; he who leadeth into captivity shall be led into captivity,” Beausoleil said.
After Judge Keene spoke the words condemning, the 22-year-old defendant to the gas chamber, Beausoleil yelled:
“You can’t judge me. Only God can judge me and God is on my side.”
Miss Brunner, 26, was ejected from the courtroom after she stood up in the audience, demanded the opportunity to testify again and shrieked: “Bobby isn’t guilty.”
Later bailiffs returned her to the courtroom and Judge Keene sentenced her to five days in jail for contempt. ...Continue