Judge Cuts Charges in Doping Case
Thursday, February 25th, 1971
LOS ANGELES, Feb. 25 – Some of the charges were dismissed yesterday against five of Charles Manson’s followers accused of giving an LSD-soaked hamburger to a prosecution witness in the Tate-LaBianca murder trial.
However, Superior Court Judge Raymond Choate ordered each of the five to stand trial March 10 on one count of conspiracy to dissuade a witness from testifying and one of bribery of a witness.
Citing insufficient evidence, the judge dismissed those portions of the conspiracy complaints which alleged the defendants plotted to murder the witness and to feloniously assault her.
Those accused of the conspiracy are Lynette Fromme, Catherine Share, Ruth Ann Morehouse, Stephen Grogan and Dennis Rice.
The purported conspiracy was the result of giving Barbara Hoyt, 19, a hamburger with LSD last September in Hawaii.
Although she reportedly ate the hamburger, Miss Hoyt subsequently testified against Manson and three female followers convicted of the Tate-LaBianca murders.
The five defendants have been held without bail because conspiracy to commit murder carries a possible death penalty.
But because he struck that portion of the charge, Judge Choate yesterday set $10,000 bond for each defendant.
The judge will hear pre-trial motions in the case today at 9 a.m.
Comments