GRAND JURY
Monday, December 8, 1969
DIANNE
LAKE
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MR. STOVITZ: Diana Bluestien.
THE SERGEANT AT ARMS: Diana Bluestien.
DIANNE ELIZABETH LAKE,
called as a witness before the Grand Jury, was sworn and
testified as follows:
THE FOREMAN: Will you state your full name; please.
THE WITNESS: Dianne Elizabeth Lake.
THE FOREMAN: Will you raise your right hand and take the following oath:
You do solemnly swear that the evidence you shall give in this matter now pending before the Grand Jury of the County of Los Angeles shall be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you God?
THE WITNESS: I do.
THE FOREMAN: Will you please be seated.
MR. STOVITZ: Dianne, no one is going to hurt you, just be seated. It will just be a few minutes.
EXAMINATION BY MR. STOVITZ:
Q: Your first name is Dianne, D-i-a-n-e; is that right?
A: No.
Q: How do you spell that?
A: D-i-a-n-n-e.
Q: D-i-a-n-n-e. And your middle name is Elizabeth, E-l-i-z-a-b-e-t-h?
A: Yes.
Q: And the last name, I didn't get that last name.
A: Lake.
Q: L-a-k-e?
A: Yes.
Q: And what is the date of your birth date?
A: February 28, 1953.
Q: So, you are under sixteen; is that right?
A: Yes.
Q: But you want to be considered as being over eighteen; is that right, Dianne?
A: No.
Q: You always give your birthday as February 28, 1968 (sic); don't you?
A: Uh-huh, yes.
Q: Now, on August the 16th, 1969, were you living at the Spahn Ranch?
A: No.
Q: So then you weren't arrested on that date by the Sheriff's Office; is that right?
A: No.
Q: By "No," that means yes, you were not arrested; is that correct?
A: I was somewhere else.
Q: On May the 2nd, 1968, you and Charles Manson and a couple of other people were arrested on the Summit Trail in Malibu for some charges about marijuana is that right?
A: Yes.
Q: We are not going to ask you any questions about that arrest but just so the Jury knows, that case was dismissed against you; is that right?
A: Yes.
Q: And there are no charges pending against you for that case?
A: No.
Q: Now, after August the 16th you were arrested in Inyo County, that is, Death Valley, by the Sheriff's Office up there; is that right?
A: What date?
Q: August the 16th, 1969.
A: Yes.
Q: And you are now in custody because of that arrest; isn't that right?
A: Yes.
Q: We are not going to ask you any questions concerning that arrest before this Grand Jury, now.
Do you remember where it was that you last lived at the Spahn Ranch?
A: I don't remember.
Q: Now, do you remember ever hearing about the Sharon Tate murders when five people got killed?
A: No.
Q: Did you hear about it on the radio or the TV or in the newspaper?
A: No.
Q: You never heard about it at all?
A: (Witness shakes head.)
Q: When was the very first time that you heard about it?
A: In the police station.
Q: And that was the police station where?
A: In Inyo County.
Q: Now, after you heard about it up there in the police station in Inyo County did it bring back to your mind that you heard about it sometime before?
A: No.
Q: Were you living in Los Angeles County in August of 1969?
A: No.
Q: Where were you living in August of 1969?
A: Inyo.
Q: And when had you gone up to Inyo?
A: August.
Q: Who did you go up there with?
A: Myself.
Q: Anybody else?
A: (Witness shakes head.)
Q: How did you get up there?
A: In a truck.
Q: Did you hitchhike or did you drive the truck or did somebody else drive?
A: Somebody else drove.
Q: Do you know who that other person is?
A: No.
Q: Was it Tex?
A: No.
Q: Was it somebody else?
A: It had to be.
Q: Do you remember that person's name?
A: No.
Q: Did you ever see that person again after you got up to Inyo?
A: Yes.
Q: Where is he now?
A: I don't know.
Q: When was the last time that you saw him?
A: The night we were arrested.
Q: In Inyo?
A: Uh-huh.
Q: Now, if we were to ask you your whereabouts on August the 8th, 1969, could you tell us? That is the first week in August.
A: Yes.
Q: Where were you?
A: Inyo County.
Q: August the 9th, 1969?
A: Yes.
Q: August the 10th, 1969?
A: Yes.
Q: Up in Inyo County?
A: I think so.
Q: Do you know a girl by the name of Marie Brunner?
A: Yes.
Q: Do you know whether or not she went up to Inyo County with you?
A: No.
Q: Was she still here in Los Angeles when you left to go up to Inyo County?
A: I don't know.
Q: Do you know where she was at the time you went up to Inyo County?
A: She could have been one of six or seven places.
Q: But you do not know where she was?
A: No.
MR. STOVITZ: I have no further questions of this witness.
THE FOREMAN: Any members of the Jury have a question they would like to ask the witness?
You are admonished --
Q By MR. BUGLIOSI: Did Charlie have a big glass jug out at Spahn Ranch?
A: a what?
Q: a big glass jug?
A: (Witness shrugs shoulders.)
Q: You don't know?
A: No.
Q: Did you ever see a big glass jug out there with helter-skelter written on it?
A: (Witness shakes head.)
Q: You're sure?
You have to answer out loud.
A: No.
Q: You never saw helter-skelter on a jug?
THE FOREMAN: State yes or no.
THE WITNESS: No.
Q By MR. BUGLIOSI: Did you ever see magazines inside a drawer at the ranch, out at Barker Ranch?
A: Of what?
Q: Did you ever see any magazines inside of a drawer in the house there at Barker Ranch?
A: Yes.
Q: You did?
A: Yeah.
Q: Did Charlie buy those magazines?
A: No.
Q: Did Tex buy them?
A: No.
Q: Who bought them?
A: They were there.
Q: When were they there?
A: When I was arrested before -- the night before. There were drawers all over that place with magazines.
Q: Who bought those magazines?
A: I don't know, Mrs. Barker, I imagine.
Q: Did you ever see anyone read those magazines?
A: Yeah.
Q: Did Charlie read them?
A: No.
Q: Did Tex read them?
A: No.
Q: Did Susan read them?
A: No.
Q: Were these movie magazines?
A: Some of them.
MR. BUGLIOSI: No further questions.
MR. STOVITZ: That is all.
May this witness be excused?
THE FOREMAN: You are admonished not to discuss or impart at any time outside of this Jury Room the questions that have been asked of you in regard to this matter, or your answers, until authorized by this Grand Jury or the Court to discuss or impart such matters.
If you have an attorney you can discuss it with him.
You may be excused.
MR. STOVITZ: That concludes the presentation of evidence, ladies and gentlemen.
MR. BUGLIOSI: I will make a motion that the exhibits that have been referred to now be received as they are numbered.
THE FOREMAN: They may be all received into evidence as to number.
(Whereupon proceedings before the Grand Jury were concluded.)