SACRAMENTO, Nov. 24 – The prosecution and defense presented their final arguments in the attempted presidential assassination trial of Lynette Fromme today after the Charles Manson cultist refused to testify on her own behalf.

U.S. Attorney Dwayne Keyes, pulling the trigger on the .45 caliber automatic Miss Fromme allegedly pointed at President Ford, said she went to Capitol Park Sept. 5 intending to kill the chief executive.

Displaying the gun to the jury, Keyes said. “It is not a weapon for sports hunting. It is a weapon for killing and not for killing animals, but for killing people.”

But defense attorney John Virga said the 27-year-old Miss Fromme did not intend to kill Ford.

“She wanted a forum when she went into Capitol Park,” Virga said.

“If she had killed President Ford who would have listened to her?”

Following the arguments. U.S. District Court Judge Thomas MacBride was set to give final instructions to the jury preparatory to deliberations.

MacBride opened the proceedings this morning by asking Miss Fromme, outside the presence of the jury, if she wanted to testify. “Your honor, It’s not my trial. If it’s not my trial, how can I take the stand on my own behalf?” she said.

In a rambling discourse that followed. Miss Fromme also accused Virga of misrepresenting her and warned the judge. “Don’t make us shoot, don’t make us violent.”

Virga then rested his case.

The prosecution had no rebuttal and final arguments began.

Keyes told the jurors several witnesses heard a metallic click just before Miss Fromme was knocked to the ground only two feet from the President as he walked through a crowd en route to a speech before the Legislature.

He picked up the .45 which had been introduced into evidence at the beginning of the trial Nov. 4, cocked it and pulled the trigger.

“Several witnesses have told you that was the sound most like the sound they heard,” Keyes said.

Keyes said several prosecution witnesses heard Miss Fromme say, “It didn’t go off. Can you believe it. it didn’t go off,” as she was wrestled to the ground.

“Did anyone hear her say ‘It was a joke,’ or ‘I didn’t intend to kill the President?’ ” Keyes asked the jurors.

Keyes also told the jury it will be instructed by MacBride that it can find Miss Fromme guilty of a lesser offense of assaulting President Ford.

But, he said, in order to find the defendant guilty of assault. it must discard the contention she intended to kill the President.

Keyes also recalled a visit by Miss Fromme to the Sacramento Bee in July when she talked to reporter Don Thornton about an Associated Press story.

The story contained a statement attributed to Miss Fromme saying. “If Nixon’s reality wearing a new face continues to run this country, your houses will be bloodier than My Lai and Tate-LaBianca together.”

Keyes said Miss Fromme inserted Ford’s name into the story, making it read …”Nixon’s reality wearing a Ford face …”

In his final argument, Virga urged the jury to convict Miss Fromme of the lesser charge of assault against the President.

“I’m telling you now, you should find her guilty of assault of a President because that is what she did,” Virga declared. “She did not act with intent to kill the President.”

If convicted of attempting to assassinate Ford, the Manson family member faces a life term in prison. Assault against a president carries a maximum of 10 years in prison and a $10,000 fine.

Virga also cited social problems of the 1960s including campus uprisings and civil rights movements in an apparent attempt to explain Miss Fromme’s motive.

But MacBride cautioned the defense attorney he was going beyond the evidence presented in the 14-day trial.

Virga objected, saying, “It’s like going to a doctor. He needs a history before he can make a diagnosis.”

“Yes, but you’re making a history of the whole world,” the judge replied.

Referring to her belief in Charles Manson, convicted mastermind of the seven Tate-LaBianca slayings, Virga said, “Because someone believes in a person who you disapprove of doesn’t mean that that someone is a bad persons.”

Miss Fromme was not in court during the final arguments.

By MAX MILLER