• Manson’s Pal Sentenced to Gas Chamber

Manson’s Pal Sentenced to Gas Chamber

LOS ANGELES, Apr. 21 – The first member of the Manson family to stand trial for murder was sentenced today to death by a Los Angeles Superior Court jury.

Robert Beausoleil, 22, registered no emotion as the seven-woman, five-man jury brought back the decision that he should die in California’s gas chamber for the torture murder of Musician Gary Hinman.

His girlfriend, Kitty Lutesinger, 18, the mother of his child, burst into tears and was comforted by Beausoleil’s parents. They had been in constant attendance since their son’s first trial, which ended in a hung jury, and through-out the current proceedings.

The baby-faced defendant rose to address the court after the jury filed out and asked that he represent himself in further proceedings.

“Throughout these proceedings, I’ve been silent,” he said. “I’ve said what I have to say on the witness stand — truthfully and honestly. I said exactly what happened.”

Although interrupted by Judge William Keene who admonished that he was not to reargue the case, Beausoleil continued.

“There are those who know of my innocence who have yet to come forward,” Beausoleil said quietly, leaning on the counsel table.

“It’s my only chance to talk with these witnesses. I apparently have to prove my innocence. This court has condemned me to death and I plead with the court to allow me to act as my own attorney.”

Keene, who commended Beausoleil’s attorney, Leon Salter, as “acting in the highest traditions of the public defender’s office,” denied Beausoleil’s request and set May 12 as the date to hear a motion for a new trial.

Salter, obviously shaken by the verdict, immediately left the courtroom to talk with his client. The 31-year-old public defender has represented more than two dozen murder defendants, but none previously were convicted of first degree murder.

Prosecutor Dep. Dist. Atty. Burton Katz claimed the verdict was “consistent with justice.

“I’m sad for the parents of Mr. Beausoleil but there comes a time when we cannot tolerate the taking of a life — especially in this manner.”

Beausoleil’s mother, who faced newsmen outside the courtroom, was dry-eyed. She contended her son would be “free if the jury had followed the judge’s instructions.

“The judge told them to handle with mistrust the testimony given by a person who has been granted immunity. Mary Brunner was given immunity and Danny DeCarlo was given special considerations — yet, the jury believed them.”

Beausoleil was convicted of first-degree murder Saturday apparently on the strength of testimony of Miss Brunner, an eyewitness to the killing of Hinman in his secluded Topanga Canyon home July 27.

DeCarlo, a hanger-on of the Manson hippie cult, testified he had overheard details of the killing while he was at the Spahn Ranch in Chatsworth where the family lived.

Hinman died of two stab wounds in the chest inflicted by Beausoleil after he had been kept captive and tortured for two days.

The prosecution contended Beausoleil killed Hinman on Manson’s orders after the 34-year-old musician refused to give the family money.

Currently under indictment for the Hinman murder are the cult leader, Charles, Manson, and two of his followers, Susan Atkins and Bruce Davis. Manson and Miss Atkins are also charged with the Tate-LaBianca killings.

By MARY NEISWENDER

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