Steel Notes Magazine
July & August 2016
being judged by a society unworthy and incapable of understanding him. In protest, he had symbolically “X’d”
himself from the world. Atkins, Krenwinkel, and Van Houten followed Manson’s example by burning an X into
each of their foreheads.
Opening statements began on July 24. On November 19, 1970; after nearly four months of testimony by prosecution witnesses, the state rested. On that same date, November 19, 1970, Attorney Paul Fitzgerald stunned the
court by resting the collective defense without calling a single witness and without having presented any evidence. The courtroom exploded.
The three “Manson girls” Susan Atkins, Patricia Krenwinkel,
and Leslie Van Houten all jumped up and shouted about how
they wanted to testify. Even when order had been restored, the
threesome insisted they wanted to take the stand, to tell the
jury they’d killed Sharon Tate and the others on their own, that
Charlie had nothing to do with the killings. That’s when Hughes
stood up and told Judge Older, “I refuse to take part in any
proceeding where I am forced to push a client out the window.”
Fear ing their clients would incriminate themselves, the defense
attorneys threatened to quit if the judge allowed the testimony.
Judge Older accused the defense of trying to wreck the trial.
In chambers, attorneys for the women explained that although
their clients wanted to testify, they were strongly opposed,
believing that they would, still under the powerful influence of
Manson, testify that they planned and committed the murders
without Manson’s help. Returning to the courtroom, Judge Older
declared that the right to testify took precedence and said that
the defendants could testify over the objections of their counsel. Atkins was then sworn as a witness, but her attorney, Daye
Shinn, refused to question her. Returning to chambers, one
defense attorney complained that questioning their clients on
the stand would be like “aiding and abetting a suicide.” Hughes
later told a reporter that he was confident that he could secure
an acquittal for Van Houten.
After that, Manson was allowed to make his own statement to
the court, but WITHOUT THE JURY PRESENT, so that potentially excludable testimony relating to evidence incriminating
co-defendants might be identified before it prejudiced the jury. Hughes repeated his objections and advised his
client and the other two women not to testify. Older halted proceedings there, and ordered a ten-day recess so
the opposing teams of attorneys could prepare their closing arguments.
By December 2nd, Hughes had been missing for nearly two weeks. Judge Older gave up. He appointed a new
attorney, Maxwell Keith, for Leslie Van Houten and ordered the proceedings to continue. The women threw a fit
and demanded the judge let them fire all their lawyers, and then reopen their defense. Keep in mind that this is
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