Historic Trial Transcripts
The People of the State of California vs. Charles Manson, Susan Atkins, Patricia Krenwinkel and Leslie Van Houten
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On the night of August 8, 1969, Charles Manson directed Tex Watson to take Susan Atkins, Linda Kasabian, and Patricia Krenwinkel to the former home of music producer, Terry Melcher at 10050 Cielo Drive in Los Angeles. According to Watson, Manson told them to kill everyone there. The home had recently been rented to actress Sharon Tate and her husband, director Roman Polanski. Also in the home that night were Jay Sebring, Abigail Folger, and Wojtek Frykowski. Steven Parent was in his car after visiting the caretaker’s home. Roman Polanski was not at home that night. The intruders viciously murdered the five people they found.
The following night members of the Manson “Family” drove to the home of Leno and Rosemary LaBianca and brutally murdered them.
The murders created a nationwide sensation.
This is the trial transcript of the ten-month trial that followed: The People of the State of California vs. Charles Manson, Susan Atkins, Leslie Van Houten and Patricia Krenwinkel, in five volumes.
Charles Manson and his attorney, Irving Kanarek
Charles Manson's testimony on November 20, 1970:
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THE CLERK: Would you raise your right hand, please.
Would you please repeat after me.
I do solemnly swear—
DEFENDANT MANSON: I do solemnly swear—
THE CLERK: —that the testimony I may give—
DEFENDANT MANSON: —that the testimony I may give—
THE CLERK: —in the cause now pending—
DEFENDANT MANSON: —in the cause now pending—
THE CLERK: —before this Court—
DEFENDANT MANSON: —before this Court—
THE CLERK: —shall be the truth—
DEFENDANT MANSON: —shall be the truth—
THE CLERK: —the whole truth—
DEFENDANT MANSON: —the whole truth—
THE CLERK: —and nothing but the truth—
DEFENDANT MANSON: —and nothing but the truth—
THE CLERK: —so help me God.
DEFENDANT MANSON: —so help me God.
THE CLERK: Be seated, please.
MR. MANSON: Hello God.
THE CLERK: Would you please state your name.
THE WITNESS: Charles Manson, M-a-n-s-o-n.
MR. KANAREK: Your Honor, then is the procedure, it puts me in a very unusual position, your Honor, in that classically and historically a lawyer is supposed to interrogate a witness, especially a person that he represents.
THE COURT: You may do that if you like, Mr. Kanarek.
MR. KANAREK: No, your Honor, I must respectfully decline.
THE COURT: Then permit Mr. Manson to make his statement.
MR. KANAREK: Then he is without counsel, your Honor
THE COURT: Let’s proceed.
Do you have anything you wish to say?
DEFENDANT MANSON: Yes, I do.
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Read the rest of the Charles Manson testimony.
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Susan Atkins
Susan Atkins testified from February 9th 1971 through February 11th 1971.
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SUSAN DENICE ATKINS,
a defendant herein, called as a witness on behalf of the defendants was examined and testified as follows:
DIRECT EXAMINATION
BY MR. SHINN:
Q. Susan, were you personally involved in the killings of the Tate and LaBianca homicides on August 8th and 9th, 1969?
A. Yes.
Q. I talked to you in jail last night, right?
A. Yes.
Q. With Mr. Keith and Mr. Fitzgerald, is that correct?
A. Yes.
Q. Along with Patricia Krenwinkel and Leslie Van Houten?
A. Yes.
Q. And you told me and you told other defense attorneys that you wanted to tell the truth on the stand.
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Read the Susan Atkins February, 9 1971 Testimony.
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Leslie Van Houten
Leslie Van Houten testified on February 22nd and 23rd, 1971.
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LESLIE LOUISE VAN HOUTEN,
a defendant herein, called as a witness by and on her own behalf, being sworn, was examined and testified as follows:
DIRECT EXAMINATION
BY MR. KEITH:
Q. Leslie, were you born in Monrovia, California?
A. No. I was born in Altadena, California.
Q. That is the hospital where you were born; is that right?
A. Yes.
Q. St. Luke’s?
A. Yes.
Q. At that time, your mother and father were living in Monrovia?
A. Yes.
Q. When were you born, Les?
A. August 23, 1949.
Q. And you went to school in Monrovia?
A. Yes.
Q. Grade school?
A. Yes.
Q. High school?
A. Yes.
Q. Junior high school? I forgot that.
A. Yes.
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Read the Leslie Van Houten February 22nd testimony.
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Susan Atkins' Bloody Footprint