Three girl defendants in the Sharon Tate murder trial, Leslie Van Houten, Susan Atkins and Patricia Krenwinkel, from left, leave court Thursday after defense attorneys rested their case in a surprise move without calling any witnesses. Immediately the girls rose […]
Manson Defense in Surprise Rest
LOS ANGELES, Nov. 19 – In a surprise move which disrupted a Los Angeles Superior Courtroom, attorneys for cult leader Charles Manson and three of his girl followers rested their case before they even opened it. Although the four defense […]
Fitzgerald Heads Defense In Tate Case
LOS ANGELES, Nov. 18 – The defense in the Sharon Tate murder trial is planned as a joint effort — an “umbrella defense” — but the four attorneys agree that they often disagree. “At this moment in time, we are […]
State Rests Tate Case With ‘Ghastly’ Photos
LOS ANGELES, Nov. 17 – The prosecution rested its case Monday — the 98th day of the Tate-LaBianca murder trial — with introduction of “gruesome and ghastly” photographs of the seven victims. Prosecutor Vincent T. Bugliosi concluded at 4:27 p.m. […]
Court Rejects Manson Request
LOS ANGELES, Nov. 17 – “I want a chance to defend my children,” said Charles Manson — gesturing at three women codefendants — in his latest plea for the right to act as his own lawyer in the Sharon Tate […]
Photographs May Be Shown at Manson Trial
LOS ANGELES, Nov. 17 – Arguments begin today on whether photographs of bloody slaying victims will be exhibited to the jury in the Sharon Tate murder trial. The photos – 8-by-10 and in color – show the blonde, pregnant actress […]
Defendant In Tate Trial Well Liked
LOS ANGELES, Nov. 16 – Dozens of Charles Manson’s old friends and followers have testified against the emotional clan leader at the Sharon Tate murder trial. Yet not one has expressed any dislike for him. Many of the prosecution witnesses […]
Prosecution Ends Case in Tate-LaBianca Murders
LOS ANGELES, Nov. 15 – The prosecution, in effect, ended its case Friday at the Tate-LaBianca murder trial. The last prosecution witness completed his testimony and all that remains before the prosecution rests are arguments over admissibility over certain evidence. […]
Girl Tells of Death Threat, Kicking, Whipping by Manson
LOS ANGELES, Nov. 12 – Cult chieftain Charles Manson not only threatened to kill her, but kicked and whipped her, a prosecution witness in the Tate-LaBianca murder trial testified today. Manson, who observed his 36th birthday today, listened without interrupting […]
Tate Witness ‘Maybe’ Erred
LOS ANGELES, Nov. 11 – Manson family dropout Dianne Lake, one of the chief prosecution witnesses in the Tate-LaBianca murder trial became rattled on the witness stand Tuesday and admitted it was “possible” that she was mistaken about some of […]
Trial Set For Pair In Stabbings
LOS ANGELES, Nov. 11 – Two former Charles Manson clan associates charged with robbery and a stabbing attack on two men in Long Beach Sept. 25 were returned to city jail Tuesday after a preliminary hearing at which Nov. 24 […]
Key Witness Against Manson Says She’s Terrified Of Him But Loves Him
LOS ANGELES, Nov. 10 – Dianne Lake, 17, one of the chief prosecution witnesses against hippie leader Charles Manson and three of his girl followers, testified today in the Tate-LaBianca murder trial that she was terrified of him, jealous of […]
Cult Dropout Admits Lying Under Oath to Grand Jurors
LOS ANGELES, Nov. 9 – Manson family dropout Dianne Lake testified before the Tate-LaBianca jury today that she lied under oath before the grand jury about her knowledge of the Manson family and its involvement with the murders. Click here […]
Judge Rejects Printed Note’s Use as Evidence in Tate Trial
Rules Misspelled ‘Healter Skelter’ Inscription Found on Court Pad of Defendant and at Death Scene Lacks Value LOS ANGELES, Nov. 6 – The prosecution tried but failed Thursday to introduce evidence that Patricia Krenwinkel printed the inscription “Healter Skelter” as […]
Manson Murder Trial Delayed by Illness of Juror
LOS ANGELES, Nov. 6 – The illness of a woman juror today delayed resumption of the Tate-LaBianca murder trial. Mrs. Thelma McKenzie, a county employe, complained of being ill Thursday night and was examined at County-USC Medical Center. Doctors recommended […]
Manson Angry About Ban On Jail Singing
LOS ANGELES, Nov. 6 – Charles Manson, once an aspiring professional musician, complained Friday that deputies have forced him to stop singing in jail. Manson’s attorney filed a motion asking that the sheriff “be directed to cease and desist from […]
Dropout from Manson Family Begins Relating Her Story
LOS ANGELES, Nov. 5 – Despite six days of frantic efforts by defense attorneys to prevent her testimony, Manson “family” drop-out Dianne Lake today began telling her story to the five-woman, seven-man jury in the Tate-LaBianca murder trial. In rapid […]
Mental Hospital Reports Watson ‘Eating Well’
ATASCADERO, Calif., Nov. 4 – Charles “Tex” Watson, a defendant in the Sharon Tate murders is reported to be eating well and “getting the same treatment” as other patients at a state mental hospital. Watson was sent to Atascadero state […]
Tate Trial Witness ‘Threatened’
LOS ANGELES, Nov. 3 – A key state witness at the Tate murder trial has admitted that police raised the prospect she might face the gas chamber or life in prison if she did not tell them all she knew […]
Says Cult Girl Told of Stabbing
LOS ANGELES, Nov. 3 – Slender, pig-tailed Leslie Van Houten smiled and doodled as a crucial witness at the Sharon Tate murder trial linked her directly to the slayings for the first time. On the stand, pretty Dianne Lake, 17, […]
