LOS ANGELES, Mar. 25 – Prosecutor Vincent T. Bugliosi Wednesday described Charles Manson as an evil, satanic killer who sent out his followers to murder the seven Tate-LaBianca victims.

But, he declared in a powerful argument in the penalty phase of the Tate-LaBianca murder trial, the ultimate decision to kill rested with each of the three women defendants and Charles (Tex) Watson.

Neither LSD, nor Manson, nor a combination of both, would have been enough to make Watson and the women kill if they had not had “murder in their blood, their soul, their system,” he said.

“These three female defendants and Tex Watson personally committed these murders because they wanted to,” Bugliosi said. “Make no mistake about that.

“If they didn’t want to murder these victims, all they had to do was not do it.”

On the contrary, the prosecutor said, the “overkill” demonstrated by 169 stab wounds inflicted on the victims “shows a willing participation.”

“They actually enjoyed these murders,” he said. “These girls knew exactly what they were doing and they did it with relish.”

To him, Bugliosi said, it is “ridiculous” to suggest that thousands and thousands of “acid heads,” on the street, are potential, cold-blooded killers.

He assured jurors they could “bet their last dollar” that on the nights of the murders Manson would not have permitted the killers to be under the influence of LSD.

Webster’s Dictionary does not have an adjective to describe the 36-year-old Manson, Bugliosi said. But, he said, Manson is:

“One of the most evil, satanic men who ever walked the face of the earth.

“At the present time, right now, seven human beings and an 8-month-old baby fetus are in their coffins in the cold, cold earth because Charles Manson ordered that they did not have the right to live and therefore should be murdered.”

Bugliosi advised jurors not to mistake any of the three women defendants for “the girl next door.”

He said each had been alienated from society before meeting Manson. In Manson, he argued, the three — Susan Atkins, 22, Patricia Krenwinkel, 23, and Leslie Van Houten, 21 — found a strong, vitriolic expression of the hate they feel and a moving force to translate their disgust into violence.

Hundreds came to the Spahn ranch and left, Bugliosi said. Those who stayed, he maintained, liked “the brand of blackhearted, diabolical medicine Charles Manson was peddling.”

He reminded jurors that the state penal code contains no special provisions that the death penalty should not be applied to youthful women, chronic LSD users or convicted killers who possibly could be rehabilitated.

Bugliosi named each of the four defendants, offering reasons why they should receive the death penalty. He charged that Manson and Susan Atkins had been involved in eight murders, including musician Gary Hinman, and that she had actually tasted Sharon Tate’s blood.

He said Patricia Krenwinkel was present when seven persons were murdered and that Leslie Van Houten participated in the killing of Rosemary and Leno LaBianca. He said none had shown remorse.

“Don’t forget the seven victims in this case,” the prosecutor urged.

He recalled that Rosemary LaBianca told Miss Van Houten she “would give her anything she wanted;” that young Steven Parent cried to “Tex” Watson, “Please don’t hurt me. I won’t say anything;” Voityck Frykowski screamed into the night, “Oh, God no, please don’t. Oh God, no, please don’t”, and that the pregnant Sharon Tate begged Susan Atkins, “Please let me live so I can have my baby.”

Now, the prosecutor said, the defense attorneys want jurors to give their clients “a break” and to have “mercy.” But, he asked, did the defendants give the victims a chance or have mercy when they begged and pleaded for their lives.

By JOHN KENDALL