• Barefoot Manson On Trial

Barefoot Manson On Trial

LOS ANGELES, Aug. 5 — A barefooted Charles Manson appeared unconcerned in court Tuesday as the prosecution set out to prove his participation in two more slayings.

Los Angeles County Dep. Dist. Atty. Anthony C. Manzella Jr., in an opening statement to a Jury in Superior Court Judge Raymond Choate’s court, said he will prove that Manson is guilty of first degree murder in the 1969 killings of musician Gary Hinman and ranch hand Donald “Shorty” Shea.

Manson, who listened while sitting with his legs folded under him, already has been condemned to death for the seven Tate-LaBianca slayings.

Manzella said evidence in the trial will show that Hinman’s murder “was planned, organized and ordered” by Manson because Hinman would not return property Manson said the victim owed him.

The alleged slaying of Hinman netted his killers two automobiles and $27 in cash.

The prosecutor said Manson and his followers were seeking money to finance a planned movement to the desert. At the time they were living on the Spahn ranch near Chatsworth, Calif.

Shea was stabbed to death, according to Manzella, because Manson thought the victim was responsible for an August 1969 sheriff’s raid on the Spahn ranch.

Noting that Shea’s body has never been found, Manzella said he will introduce evidence to prove Shea is dead and that Manson participated In the killing.

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