Tate Jury Selection Has Little Success
Wednesday, June 24th, 1970
LOS ANGELES, Jun. 24 – The Tate-Labianca murder trial attorneys finished interviewing the first panel of 60 prospective jurors yesterday without getting remotely close to selecting a single permanent juror to hear the case against Charles Manson and his “family.”
Men and women went in and out of the judge’s chamber as if they were in a revolving door, the vast majority excused because they pleaded that being locked up during the month-long trial would work an unacceptable personal hardship.
Another panel of 60 citizens was summoned yesterday afternoon.
Superior Court Judge Charles H. Older refused to reverse his decision that the 12 permanent and 6 alternate jurors would be sequestered in their hotel rooms once the trial gets to the point of testimony and evidence.
Irving Kanarek, attorney for the hippie guru accused of masterminding seven murders, sought yesterday to have Manson called to the witness stand immediately to back up a motion for dismissal on grounds he was not getting a speedy trial as guaranteed by the Constitution.
Older put the motion over for later hearing and ordered, the jury selection to proceed.
At midday, 11 of the original 60 citizens called were seated in the jury box but none had undergone the extensive examination by the two prosecution and four defense lawyers that will take weeks.
Deputy Dist. Atty. Vincent Bugliosi told newsmen he did not believe any of the first panel would be on the final jury.
Susan Atkins, one of the three female codefendents in the case, caused somewhat of a stir when she entered the courtroom in lounging pajamas. It was apparent that she wore nothing beneath them.
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