Murder Evidence In Manson Trial

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32360, 28 July 1970, Page 17

Murder Evidence In Manson Trial

(N.Z. Press Assn.—Copyright) LOS ANGELES, July 27 The prosecution says its star witness will testify today in the Sharon Tait murder trial that a hippiestyle band controlled by Charles Manson shot and stabbed to death the actress and six other people. The witness is Linda Kasabian, aged 21, a member of the Manson “family” expected to be granted immunity from prosecution in return for her testimony. The Deputy District Attorney, Mr Vincent Bugliosi, said that her testimony would begin on Monday afternoon. The trial was in recess over the week-end after the prosecution's opening statement on Friday. Mr Bugliosi told the jury in his statement that Manson, aged 35, inspired by a Beatles’

song, ordered the deaths in hopes of igniting a blackwhite war. “Helter Skelter,” the title of one of the Beatles' songs, meant (to Manson) the black man rising up against the white establishment and murdering the entire white race, Mr Bugliosi said. The song lyrics do not mention race war. The prosecutor said that Manson planned to hide in the desert and hoped that the blacks would win the race war, then turn over their power to him as the only remaining white. One defence lawyer called Mr Bugliosi's statement “a melodramatic tirade against Manson.” A report about the hippie group Manson is said to have led appears on page 10.