March 29, 1971: Death Penalty Recommended for Charles Manson and Followers

On March 29, 1971, a Los Angeles jury recommended the death penalty for Charles Manson and three of his female followers—Susan Atkins, Patricia Krenwinkel, and Leslie Van Houten—for their roles in the infamous Tate-LaBianca murders of 1969. This recommendation marked a pivotal moment in one of the most notorious criminal cases in American history.

Background

The Tate-LaBianca murders were a series of brutal killings orchestrated by Charles Manson, the leader of a cult known as the “Manson Family.” On the nights of August 8 and 9, 1969, members of the Manson Family committed two sets of murders:

1. The Tate Murders: On August 8, 1969, actress Sharon Tate, who was eight months pregnant, and four others were murdered at Tate’s home in Los Angeles. The victims were brutally stabbed and shot by Manson’s followers.

2. The LaBianca Murders: The following night, Leno and Rosemary LaBianca were murdered in their Los Angeles home. The killings were similarly gruesome, with the perpetrators leaving messages written in the victims’ blood.

The Trial

The trial of Charles Manson and his followers began in June 1970 and quickly became a media spectacle. Manson, known for his charismatic and manipulative personality, had convinced his followers to carry out the murders as part of a plan he called “Helter Skelter,” which he believed would incite a race war.

Throughout the trial, Manson and his co-defendants displayed erratic behavior, including carving symbols into their foreheads and disrupting court proceedings. The prosecution, led by Vincent Bugliosi, presented a compelling case that highlighted Manson’s control over his followers and his direct involvement in planning the murders.

Jury’s Recommendation

After months of testimony and deliberation, the jury found Manson, Atkins, Krenwinkel, and Van Houten guilty of murder. On March 29, 1971, the jury recommended the death penalty for all four defendants. This decision was based on the heinous nature of the crimes and the perceived threat that Manson and his followers posed to society.

Aftermath

• Death Sentences Commuted: In 1972, the California Supreme Court invalidated the state’s death penalty statutes, resulting in the commutation of all death sentences to life imprisonment. Consequently, Manson and his followers’ sentences were reduced to life in prison.

• Cultural Impact: The Manson Family murders had a profound impact on American culture, symbolizing the end of the 1960s’ era of peace and love. The case has been the subject of numerous books, films, and documentaries, reflecting ongoing public fascination with Manson and his crimes.

• Manson’s Death: Charles Manson remained in prison until his death on November 19, 2017, at the age of 83.

The recommendation of the death penalty for Charles Manson and his followers on March 29, 1971, remains a significant moment in the history of American criminal justice, illustrating the complexities of cult influence and the enduring impact of violent crime on society.