Deputy DA to Be First Bugliosi Trial Witness
Friday, September 27th, 1974
LOS ANGELES, Sept. 27 – Dep. Dist. Atty. Stephen Kay is expected to be called as the first witness today in the perjury trial of Vincent T. Bugliosi, the lawyer Kay assisted in prosecuting convicted murderer Charles Manson.
An eight-woman, four-man jury was sworn in late Thursday to hear the felony case in the court of Superior Judge Earl C. Broady.
One man and one woman also were selected as alternates to replace any jurors who might become ill or have personal emergencies during the estimated two-week trial.
Broady admonished the jurors to avoid reading or hearing any news media stories concerning the case. He earlier had rejected a move by Bugliosi’s lawyer, Harland Braun, to sequester the jury to prevent them from exposure to publicity.
Special prosecutor Theodore P. Shield said Kay will be called after brief opening statements by both sides. He said Kay’s testimony “logically” should open the trial because it will present most of the background of incidents leading to the perjury indictment.
Bugliosi is charged with lying under oath twice before Superior Judge Charles H. Older and once before the Los Angeles County Grand Jury in denying he gave Times reporter William Farr a transcript of a witness’ statement despite a gag order during the 1970 Manson trial.
Kay has said in other proceedings that Farr asked him to hand a manila envelope to Bugliosi shortly after the prosecutor had obtained copies of Manson trial witness’ Virginia Graham’s statement. Kay also said Bugliosi became extremely angry when Kay asked if the envelope contained the Graham transcript.
Farr also is under subpoena as a key witness. He has consistently refused to say who gave him the transcripts, maintaining newsmen have a right under state law and the First Amendment to keep secret their sources of information.
BY MYRNA OLIVER
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