Girl Tells of Death Threat, Kicking, Whipping by Manson
Thursday, November 12th, 1970
LOS ANGELES, Nov. 12 – Cult chieftain Charles Manson not only threatened to kill her, but kicked and whipped her, a prosecution witness in the Tate-LaBianca murder trial testified today.
Manson, who observed his 36th birthday today, listened without interrupting as his former “family” member Dianne Lake, 17, underwent a fifth day of cross examination, in which defense attorneys attempted to break down her story.
Miss Lake said Manson threatened her life by saying, “I’m going to kill you, Snake, I’m going to kill you.”
However, the girl said she did not remember why he was going to kill her.
It was during the same period — early summer of 1969 — that Manson also beat her, Miss Lake said.
“He hit me with a chair leg, kicked me, and whipped me with an electric cord,” she said. Miss Lake had earlier, testified that Manson had “slugged me in the mouth with his fist,” while the “family” was residing in Death Valley.
Under cross examination by Manson’s attorney, Irving Kanarek, the girl admitted the death threat was made only once, and said she didn’t know if her former leader meant to kill her or her “ego.”
The trial of Manson, Susan Atkins, Patricia Krenwinkel and Leslie Van Houten is now in its 22nd
week in Los Angeles Superior Court wilh the prosecution reporting plans in call only two more witnesses.
The witnesses are two doctors from Patton State Hospital, where Miss Lake was a patient for eight months.
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