• Judge Bars Manson and Girls From Courtroom

Judge Bars Manson and Girls From Courtroom

LOS ANGELES, Oct. 6 – The judge in the Tate-LaBianca murder trial today refused to allow Charles Manson and his three girl “followers” to reenter the courtroom because they refused to give assurances that they would not disrupt the trial.

Instead, the four defendants listened from separate holding cells as the trial settled into a quiet routine — in sharp contrast to the frantic activities Monday, when Manson attempted to assault the judge.

Los Angeles Police Department ballistics expert DeWayne Wolfer testified that he conducted sound tests at the home of actress Sharon Tate which proved that caretaker William Garretson, who said he was listening to his stereo while the murders were being committed, could not have heard the shots. If the stereo had been off, Wolfer testified, the caretaker could have heard the murder shots.

Before the witness took the stand, and with the jury out of the courtroom, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Charles Older in quick succession slapped down four defense motions.

Judge Older refused to suppress evidence obtained at the Spahn Ranch on the defense contention that the information was “willfully suppressed by the police department.”

He also denied a motion to connect the defendants to the courtroom via closed-circuit television, denied an additional request for a closed-circuit communications system, refused to strike testimony of a police officer regarding the X’s cut in Manson’s forehead, and refused a motion for continuance until the defendants decided to return to court.

The trial, in its 17th week, is expected to continue another two months. On trial with the hippie leader are his three “girls” — Leslie Van Houten, Patricia Krenwinkel and Susan Atkins.

By MARY NEISWENDER

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