Good Says No Defense Until ‘Family’ Retried
Monday, March 15th, 1976
SACRAMENTO, Mar. 15 – Sandra Good declared today she would offer no defense against government conspiracy charges until a new trial is granted imprisoned Manson family members.
Her declaration came during a wild courtroom scene in which the same demand also was made by Lynette “Squeaky” Fromme.
The three-way exchange between the women, both Manson family members, and U.S. District Judge Thomas MacBride, ended with the tiny Miss Fromme being carried yelling from court by marshals.
She had arrived, supposedly, to be the star defense witness against charges of conspiring to mail threatening letters against Miss Good and Susan Murphy.
But MacBride said first he wanted to talk to Miss Fromme, who is serving a life sentence for a assassination attempt on President Ford.
The jury was out of the room when Miss Fromme, wearing blue sneakers and a black habit and headpiece similar to a nun’s, took the stand.
MacBride said he wanted her assurances that she would answer prosecution questions if she did testify.
“I cannot testify until my family gets a trial,” Miss Fromme declared.
Then Miss Good said, “I don’t wish to put on a defense. I want life. I want to go with her.”
During the exchange the judge said something about ringing a bell. Miss Fromme declared, “We rang the bell in 1969” — an apparent referral to the Tate-LaBianca slayings which led to the conviction of Charles Manson and other family members on murder charges.
“I’m not putting on a defense until my family gets a defense,” Miss Good then said.
The microphone used by witnesses was removed from Miss Fromme’s hands by a marshal as she appeared to be on the verge of making a speech.
“Money is the devil,” Miss Fromme shouted as she was removed from the court.
After Miss Fromme was removed, Miss Good turned toward a woman in the spectator section who apparently had smiled or laughed. “…Very funny lady in green … Sharon Tate is your reality.” Then she added “I want life in prison. I want to be with my family.”
The judge recessed court and when it was later reconvened the prosecution ended its case against the women with the introduction of a few more pieces of evidence.
If Miss Good sticks to her apparent decision of no defense, the case could be over in a day or two. She and Miss Murphy are charged with conspiring to mail 171 allegedly threatening letters to persons they regard as hostile to the environment. Miss Good also is charged with making threats during telephone interviews with three radio stations and one newspaper.
By BILL LAWRENCE
She makes me sick! She is still spouting off at the mouth about all her pro-Manson bulleh*t! A lobotomy wouldn’t be out of the question for this broad!