• Manson Given Life Term In Hinman-Shea Murders

Manson Given Life Term In Hinman-Shea Murders

LOS ANGELES, Nov. 30 — A penalty verdict of life imprisonment was returned against Charles Manson yesterday for the Gary Hinman-Donald (Shorty) Shea murders in 1969.

A Superior Court jury of eight men and four women had deliberated five hours and 20 minutes since receiving the case last Friday.

Judge Raymond Choate set Dec. 20 at 9 a.m. for formal pronouncement of sentencing.

After the verdicts were read, Manson yelled at jurors and spectators: “You’re in prison…you’re all in prison.”

Jurors recommended three life imprisonment terms for Hinman’s murder, Shea’s murder and a charge of conspiracy to murder and to rob Hinman.

The 37-year-old defendant looked haggard when he entered the courtroom and did not react during the actual reading of the verdicts.

Judge Choate thanked the jurors for their “sacrifice,” which he called “unusual and demanding.” The case has been in trial since last July.

After the judge thanked jurors, Manson muttered, “shake their hands.”

The same jury last Nov 2 convicted Manson of two counts of first-degree murder and the conspiracy charge after a week of deliberation.

Hinman, a musician, was murdered in his Topanga Canyon home in late July 1969, about two weeks before the Tate-LaBianca murders.

Manson faces eight death sentences in connection with the seven Tate-LaBianca murders, including one for a conspiracy to murder conviction.

Shea assertedly was murdered about two weeks after the Tate-LaBianca killings, but a body has never been found.

The victim was a stuntman who lived on and off at the Spahn Ranch in Chatsworth, where Manson and his cult of nomadic hippies lived during part of 1968 and 1969.

One of Manson’s followers, Robert Beausoleil 24, was convicted of Hinman’s murder last year in a retrial. He is on death row.

Another follower, Susan Atkins 23, pleaded guilty to Hinman’s murder earlier this year and was sentenced to life in prison.

Miss Atkins, along with three other Manson cultists, also face death sentences in connection with the Tate-LaBianca murders.

The others are Patricia Krenwinkel 24, Leslie Van Houten 22 and Charles (Tex) Watson 25. Steve Grogan 20, was convicted and sentenced to death for Shea’s murder.

His death verdict by another Superior Court jury came earlier this month.

In addition, Bruce Davis 26, another Manson follower, is scheduled to go on trial in Judge Choate’s courtroom in a matter of days in connection with the Hinman-Shea killings.

Still another cultist, Mary Brunner 26, has been indicted for Hinman’s murder, but a trial has not yet been scheduled.

Newsmen asked defense attorney Irving A. Kanarek to comment on the verdict.

“I believe the evidence shows Charles Manson is innocent,” Kanarek said. “There is a reasonable doubt in the minds of some of the jurors.”

One reporter asked if this were the case, why did the jury convict Manson of two counts of first-degree murder in the first place.

“Because of the Manson mania,” he replied.

Kanarek declared that everyone on the jury knew that Manson has already been sentenced to death for the Tate-LaBianca murders.

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2 Responses to Manson Given Life Term In Hinman-Shea Murders

  1. Barbara Gordon says:

    As far as I care,they should have been dead by now.Such an awful crime,why do they get to live?No way ever.

  2. Theresa says:

    I think it’s sad what they did to take lives the way they did. These poor people suffered knowing they we’re going to die. You can only imagine the way Charles mansion twisted these young minds and now they pay the price. My question is if they killed why should they be able to have children and get married. I think if any of them get out no one will be safe. Most of them sound remorseful but is that for the cameras and media or do they really mean it. Something to always think about. I think they all should have been executed. I vote they should all remain in jail.

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