• Jury Members Selected for Another Manson Trial

Jury Members Selected for Another Manson Trial

LOS ANGELES, Jul. 25 — A jury of eight men and four women has been selected to try condemned killer Charles Manson for the Hinman-Shea murders.

Selection began immediately for four alternate jurors in case one of the first 12 is excused in a trial which is expected to last four to five months.

Manson is charged with conspiracy and two counts of murder for the 1969 slaying of Topanga Canyon musician Gary Hinman and the alleged murder, also in 1969, of movie stuntman Donald (Shorty) Shea, whose body has never been found.

During pre-trial motions, the prosecution contended that the Hinman-Shea murders were part of Manson’s plan to begin a race war.

Seven of the 12 jurors are black.

As the clerk said the last words of the oath — “So help you God” — Manson asked, ”So help you who?”

Superior Court Judge Raymond Choate told Manson to be quiet.

But Manson looked around the room and inquired, “Where is he (God) at? He’d better be in this courtroom. He’s the only one who can hold me.”

Dep. Dist. Atty. Anthony Mazella and defense attorney Irving Kanarek accepted the jury four and one-half weeks after jury selection began last June 23.

On June 22, Manson’s trial and those of two codefendants, Stephen Grogan 20, and Bruce Davis 26, were severed.

Grogan now is on trial in another court for the alleged slaying of Shea. An indictment against Davis, charging him with both crimes, is being challenged in the State Court of Appeals.

Manzella and Kanarek went through about 300 prospective jurors before accepting the panel.

Manson and three of his female followers already have been convicted and condemned to the gas chamber for the Tate-LaBianca murders.

One of the Tate-LaBianca defendants, Susan Atkins 23, earlier pleaded guilty to Hinman’s slaying and was sentenced to life in prison.

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