Historic Trial Transcripts
The People of the State of California vs. Charles "Tex" Watson
On August 2, 1971, Charles “Tex” Watson stood trial in Los Angeles, California, for his role in the brutal Tate-LaBianca murders—a case that would become one of the most notorious criminal trials in American history. This volume presents the official court transcript from the proceedings, offering readers a front-row seat to the opening of the case, the arguments of the prosecution and defense, witness testimony, and the legal strategies surrounding one of the most closely examined murder cases of the 20th century.
Charles Watson testified on Wednesday, September 1-2, 1971
Q. What happened when the group was in the room then?
A. A guy started toward me and—
Q. Was this the man that had been on the couch?
A. No, it was another person.
Q. What happened then?
A. And I was—I remember I was kind of running or jumping back and forth behind the couch and making funny noises and Sadie said, “Watch out,” or something like that and I turned around and I emptied the gun on this man.
Q. You say emptied the gun on this man?
A. Yes.
Q. How many times did you shoot him, if you know?
A. I don’t know. I just shot, you know. I don’t know how many times I shot him.
Q. Did you do anything else?
A. Then I went around the couch and started stabbing him.
Q. This is the same man that you shot?
A. Yes. Patricia was already over there stabbing him and I went over and I did the same thing.
Q. How long did that take or last?
A. Until Sadie hollered at me and she was fighting and stabbing a man going out the door.
Q. What did you do about that, if anything?
Read the Charles Watson testimony
Linda Kasabian testified on August 16-18, 1971
Q. This knife that Larry gave you, was it unusual at all?
A. It had tape around it, around the handle.
Q. Then, Tex eventually got into the car?
A. Yes.
Q. What is the next thing that happened?
A. We started to drive away and then Charlie stopped us. Then he came over to the passenger’s side of the car and he said something about “Leave a sign. You girls know what I mean. Something witchy, something like that.”
THE COURT: Will you speak directly into the microphone. Maybe that will help us.
THE WITNESS: Did you hear what I said?
MR. BUGLIOSI: Yes.
THE COURT: Leave a sign.
THE WITNESS: Yes.
Q. BY MR. BUGLIOSI: Something witchy?
A. Yes, something like, “you girls know what I mean, something witchy.”
Q. Now, you were dressed in dark clothing at the time?
A. Yes.
Q. How about Katie and Sadie, how were they dressed?
A. Yes, they were in dark clothes also.
Q. What about Tex?
A. Him too.
Q. All four of you were then dressed in dark clothing?
A. Yes.
Q. Top and bottom?
A. Yes.
Q. Did you have any shoes or sandals on?
A. No, I didn’t have shoes on.
Q. You were barefooted?
A. Yes.
Q. What about Sadie and Katie?
A. I don’t think they had shoes, either.
Q. What about Tex?
A. Yes, I think he wore shoes.
Q. And you also had a change of clothing with you?
A. Yes.
Q. What about Tex, Sadie and Katie, did they also have a change of clothing?
A. Yes.
Q. So there were four sets of changes of clothing in the car?
A. Right.
Q. Then, after Charlie made that statement about leaving something witchy to the girls, Tex drove off?
A. Yes.
Q. Manson saw you off?
A. Yes.
Q. Was anyone with Manson as the car pulled out of the parking lot at Spahn Ranch?
A. No.
Q. Did you know what you and the others were going to do, Linda, when you drove off?
A. I just had a feeling that we might be going someplace to steal something.
Q. Did you have any idea that you were going to the Tate residence to kill anyone?
Read the Linda Kasabian testimony