LOS ANGELES, Nov. 11 – Manson family dropout Dianne Lake, one of the chief prosecution witnesses in the Tate-LaBianca murder trial became rattled on the witness stand Tuesday and admitted it was “possible” that she was mistaken about some of her damning testimony against Charles Manson and three of his girl followers.

Under grueling and at times confusing cross examination, the 17-year-old girl initially claimed she first told a technician at Patton State Hospital that she lied to the county grand jury because she feared for her life.

She testified under oath before the grand jury Dec. 8, 1969, that she was not at the Spahn Ranch in Chatsworth at the time of the mass murders and knew nothing about the killings.

She later said she “possibly” told a doctor. Then a few minutes later, she said she told Dep. Dist. Atty. Vincent Bugliosi last June. She recanted that and said she told the prosecutor only “last week.”

Finally after repeated questioning by Manson’s attorney, Irving Kanarek, the girl admitted she “never told anyone before I took the witness stand that Charlie threatened me.”

“I don’t think I ever said I lied because Charlie threatened me. I said I was in fear of my life, and Charlie told me not to talk to anyone in authority. I was in fear of my life..because I wasn’t supposed to say anything…because l had been threatened.”

“What threat?” Kanarek asked.

“The statement was made that “I’m going to kill you’,” the girl answered, but did not elaborate on who made the statement. “Charlie had threatened me several times,” she added later.

At this point, Manson, who has made several out-spoken remarks, stage whispered to Superior Court Judge Charles Older, “she’s working pretty good for you.”

The judge ignored the remark.

In recounting for Kanarek the morning after the killing of market owner Leno LaBianca and his wife Rosemary, the girl said Leslie Van Houten returned to the Spahn Ranch just after dawn.

Miss Van Houten burned some clothing, a rope and a purse, then gave her some money with which to go shopping, Miss Lake testified.

Asked who was with her on the shopping spree, the girl named several other “family” members, including Sandra Goode, a Manson follower who has kept vigil day and night outside the court building for the last two mouths.

After getting her to admit several times that Miss Goode was present, Kanarek, then reminded the young witness:

“Isn’t it true that Sandy Goode was in jail at that time?”

Hounded further by Ronald Hughes, who represents Miss Van Houten, Miss Lake said she stayed with the Manson family despite her fears. “because I was looking for freedom.”

Questioned in detail about people and events at the family’s home on the movie ranch, the girl admitted her memory was bad — but not as bad as it was before she entered the mental hospital last January.

It was here, she admitted, it was “possible” that she was mistaken about things she testified to Monday and Tuesday.

Her testimony later brought laughter to an otherwise somber courtroom when she described how she told doctors at the hospital about hearing Manson’s voice when he wasn’t present.

By MARK NEISWENDER