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LOS ANGELES - The LAPD on Thursday announced it has open investigations on a dozen unsolved homicides near known Manson Family hangouts around Los Angeles.
The revelation came amid a legal battle to obtain hours of audio tape recordings between former Charles Manson follower and convicted murderer Charles "Tex" Watson and his lawyer.
"We have an obligation to the families of these victims," Cmdr. Andy Smith told NBC4. "Our detectives need to listen to these tapes. The tapes might help with solving these murders."
News of the open investigation was first reported by the Los Angeles Times Thursday and confirmed to NBC4 by LAPD officials. Smith told the Times the 12 murders they are investigating "are similar to some of the Manson killings."
Also on NBC Los Angeles: New direction in Grim Sleeper investigation
Manson and his followers shot to infamy in 1969 after the murders of pregnant actress Sharon Tate and four others at a Benedict Canyon home in the hills above Los Angeles. That rampage was followed the next night by the murders of Leno and Rosemary LaBianca in their Los Feliz home.
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The unheard recordings sought by the LAPD were made more than four decades ago, after Watson’s arrest for his role in the Tate-LaBianca slayings.
Charles Manson scheduled for 12th parole hearing, new photo released
LAPD’s effort to obtain the tapes was not known publicly until it was reported by NBC4 News in May. And Watson has been fighting to keep those tapes under wraps. Police believe they may hold clues to "additional unsolved murders committed by followers of Charles Manson."
Earlier this year, a court order authorized LAPD to take possession of the recordings, but Watson’s lawyer obtained a "stay" order effectively stopping the release of the tapes while his appeal is heard.
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The LAPD tried to obtain the tapes using a search warrant, according to the Times. But on Oct. 9, a federal judge in Texas granted an emergency order barring police from executing a search warrant at an office where the tapes are kept.
For now, the tapes remain in the custody of a Texas bankruptcy trustee, who took responsibility for them after the 2009 death of Watson's original attorney, Bill Boyd. Boyd had made the recordings.
Watson, now 66, is serving a life sentence in California's Mule Creek State Prison in Ione, Amador County, outside Sacramento.
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Only in America can a cold blooded murderers lawyer be able to fight the legal system so as not to give up important information on other victims.Watson will never leave prison alive so I don't see the point of Boyd withholding information that could possibly solve decades old cold cases.
He doesn't want the 4 kids he fathered while in prison to think he's a bad guy.
Decades old murders. Water under the bridge. Only thing to be accomplished is spending more money. It almost seems like grandstanding by the DA. What good can come out of all this. I remember the Manson clan and the murders and the trials. I don't remember anything about additional murders.
SO just because Tex Watson is a Manson follower his consitutional rights can be violated. Attorny client privalege (confidentiality) does not end if the lawyer dies. Just because a person is convicted of a crime does not mean that what they discussed with their attorney can be revealed to the State - this is AMERICA folks not some facist or communist state. ANd folks the decision to allow those tapes to be heard is not the attorneys it is actually Tex Watson - it is his rights that will be violated here not the attorney.
Only one reason to stone-wall. Money. Always follow the money. Someone is getting paid and its probably taxpayer money, so who cares.
deweydan, If your loved one was murdered decades ago and the case was still unsolved, getting closure is a VERY important thing that could come out of this. If this guy had changed, he would want that for these families. I can only assume he knows the tapes will incriminate him in more crimes... if they didn't, he would have no reason to block them from being heard. This guy will never see the light of day again, if he had any shred of decency in him he would let the tapes be heard to put this to rest - either to exonerate him (not likely) or give the victims' families some closure finally. I can't imagine going 40+ years wondering who killed my loved one.
If you had a family member that disappeared and you haven't heard from them since the 70's would you want to know? I would. I would want to bring that loved one home to bury so that the family could have closure.
Could be the jerk did it, and also could be a way for the police to close the books on murders they weren't able to solve....blame them on Manson, he is an easy target.
And only a Texas judge, that was appointed or elected by the people of that state would help a murderer. I wonder if he's a republican/tea party advocate? In any case, it's wrong for elected officials to stop the possible one evidence that would put this case to bed and give the victims' families some peace and closure. I wondered how he would feel if his family was victims?
This could be construed as withholding evidence. Since Watson is a felon in prison his rights should Not be considered. If this can give relief to some families that have lost a family member than they should be allowed to hear the tapes.
Manson's followers are so much like Obama's followers. Mason kept his attached to him with a lifestyle of drugs, free sex and and casual living that didn't involve jobs. They took from wealthy and used it for their own means. They did whatever they believed would please their master to stay in good grace with him. It didn't matter to them whether their deeds were right or wrong. The innocent victim's deaths meant nothing to Manson.
Sound familiar?
Dewydan, like the article states, the reason for pursuing this is because they owe it to the families. If one of your loved ones was murdered, wouldn't you want answers? Wouldn't you want to know for sure? By not pursuing this, our justice system would be telling the victims' families that their loved one was not as important as the others were. Providing answers (and ultimately, closure) to these families is the right thing to do.
Many years ago , at a legal seminar, I met the prosecuting attorney in the Mansion case, at that time I was a asst. dist. attorney in a large city; he told me there were several other killings that they were sure the Manson group was involved in; as to the tapes , as long as watson is alive, they are inadmissible and are governed by privilege.
Deweydan, I can see your point, and to an extent, you are correct. However, the one good thing that could come of it are answers for surviving family members of those murdered. Maybe those answers could help settle questions they've had for years. Not to mention, being unsolved, there may be people walking the streets today, responsible for those murders. And there's no statute of limitations on murder.
@Hollykb...
Personally, I do understand what you are saying. But somewhere along the line needs to come a breaking point. If you murder someone, I really think that you have lost all opportunities to claim privacy violations. I just think that somewhere our justice system has gone astray.
I thought Tex Watson had "found God," and he wanted parole. Hmmmm. Now he stonewalls on these tapes? I don't think so on the God and parole. It just proves that a rotten apple is rotten to the core.
There was always the implication more murders had taken place. Manson always lead people to believe there was more to him than there really was. He was and is nothing more than a cheesy little puke murderer. There may information on these so called "tapes" but this is nothing more than a stunt to sell another movie or book or regenerate interest in their pathetic little lives. They should have fried them all. I hope at least if any of this is true that the families of the victims find some sort of relief.
AS far as I am concerned, only the people that committed the acts should be incarcerated. Charlie Manson did not physically force anyone to murder anybody by holding a knife to their neck or a gun to their head. Merely suggesting that someone go do something should NEVER be a reason to send someone to prison. At worst, it is harrassment.
Think about it --- if I told you to go kill two people tonight, and you go kill them, am I responsible for your behavior ---- hell, no ---- you are. Who committed the actual act --- those are the only people who are guilty. Granted, Charlie Manson is no saint, but he did not kill anyone and with that said, there was an injustice that took place. Would people want him walking the streets for the last forty years ---- it doesn't matter ---- he committed no murders. Are there other people that we would like to see not walking the streets --- of course. We have a large number of ticking timebombs out there, but they have the right to their freedom as long as they do not commit an act.
Comments?
This is nothing, just wait until we get accused of even more grandstanding with the rest of the prisoners in Guantanamo, now going to "trial" finally, when the world finds out--"Mission Accomplished" was a typical USA lie and harassment/grandstanding like the almost 200 they have had to excuse already by human rights commission, and we have been sued for millions of Dollars, some were western countrymen wrongfully in jail, down there, so they could fill up the planes. (some more than 5 years down there illegally )!
Seen from above (other Western countries) this is "slightly" more important seen from the world than what some idiot did decades ago.
Look, this goes far beyond the Manson Family issue. If these tapes are given to the DA or police or whomever, then they have set a LEGAL PRECIDENT to ABSOLVE the ATTORNEY / CLIENT PRIVILEGE.
That means that if you were arrested, correctly or not, they would now have a way of now getting ANYTHING that you say to your attorney admitted into court.
I understand the desire to solve these old cases, but we have so many new Scientific advances that they should be able to use today's technology to prove the cases without needing PRIVILEGED tapes to give them where to look. And if the Manson Family is responsible, they are all charged and locked up. So besides answers, what difference will it make?
They say they think they know who did it, use the evidence that is LEGALLY available to them. Don't set new LEGAL PRECIDENT to take away the rights that are in place to protect all americans.
It should be a crime that these murderers are even still alive. We're paying for them to sit in jail for the rest of their lives... it's pathetic.
Why is Manson still alive? Oh thats right, he's in liberal cesspool California. I believe Richard Ramirez, the notorious Nightstalker is still living on taxpayer dime there too.
@foreverphillyfan: you are stealing our oxygen. you could not wait to try and throw political sides into a story. You .... are....a .... troll. No two ways about it.
While I understand the police and families of victims wishing to have decade old murders solved, to go around what has been a standard for years is not the right way. If police are able to seize confidently files between a attorney and client for this case, what is going to stop them going after less serious cases later. I have watched our rights eroded in the name of national security and we the people are more then happy to pass them to the government, but when does it stop? Just this May the president signed into law a presidential order that takes away the right of free speech if he and the secret service are in the same room.
While I do wish to unsolved murders to get off the books for the sake of the victims and families, we need to stop government intrusions on any of our constitutional rights. And to commit a act of a violation of those rights for the good of the people may seem to be in the best interest of all concerned, the government has shown again and again if given a inch they will take a mile. We need to stop all unconstitutional searches that they wish to do in the future and to roll back the loss of rights until we have put a stop to it. The bottom line is the incursions may seem nice and wonderful in the name of national security, but there is no circumstance where these rights are supposed to be taken from us.
Ask Asian Americans what happened less then a hundred years ago when their rights were stripped in the name of national security and they were interned for no other reason then race.
Blame it on the democrats you idiot __you probably think Obama's fault !! If California was so liberal why was their ex-governor a republican . His dad was a nazi SS trooper or guard whichever so he probably was a nazi too. Bet you voted for that nazi !
If Watson is smart, he'll hold out releasing those tapes until he negotiates something for himself. What's he got to lose?
Anyone who thinks that the tapes should be released clearly does not understand the law. Emotions should never play a part in any ruling.
The only way the recordings should be released is if the client gets immunity from any other charges that may be a result of the released tapes. The fact of the matter is that the tapes may implicate other parties to crimes, which is fine as long as the client is protected (which "in my opinion" is the point of the Attorney Client privilege rule).
Hitler, Stalin, Lenin, Mao, Pol Pot, and Tojo etc. did not physically force anyone to murder or actually kill anyone either.
Clayton thinks Reagan's dad was a Nazi? It's pretty hard to be an SS guard when you're born, live, and die in America (in 1941). Oh how I weep for the American educational system... his inability to construct a simple sentence alone is disturbing.
Short history lesson: The SCOTUS is the group that put the moratorium on the death penalty. Anyone on death row (at the time) was granted a reprieve and given a life sentence. It's double jeopardy to reinstate the death penalty on those granted the reprieve. It's been back and forth on the death penalty, but it's not the states' fault or decision regarding the use of the death penalty for Tex Watson, Charlie Manson, et al.
As for others with more current life sentences and death penalties, it's a different ballgame, now; but that's what happened with Manson and his followers.
CONSPIRACY to commit murder is also a capital crime.
Since the death penalty is off the table for the crimes which were committed, and they were convicted, they will rot in prison until they die--(which is a good thing.) However, if more murders are attributed to the Manson Family, they can be tried (and hopefully convicted) with a death penalty included (since it has been reinstated).
That's why Tex doesn't want the tapes released.
"Oh, Come On"
He tied up the La Bianca's and left them to their fate. He, also, chose the sites of the murders and was found to have been to both sights LONG BEFORE the crimes were committed...I'd say that's actively participating.
If you participate in an armed robbery and one of your team shoots and kills say, the rent a cop on the site, you still are charged and sentenced for that murder, even if it wasn't 'you' that did it. Even if that participation is waiting out in the car.
now what...
If the rights of the criminals are not upheld, them what about the rights of the law-biden people.
As far as Mason being jailed for the murders, if these young innocent minds had not met Mason in the first place non of these murders would have happen.
GP Homeschool Mom:
Clayton was talking about Arnold Schwarzenegger. I guess its possible his dad may have been a nazi since he was born in 1947?
The Tate/ LaBianca murders happened under Reagan - Republican.
Richard Ramirez was under George Deukmejian - Republican.
Just sayin'!
I read that "Tex" said he didnt have a problem with the police listening to the tapes-he just does not want them removed & taken. Why can't the police just talk to Tex about all of this? Why listen to tapes when you can talk face to face? Tex claims he is a Christian-surely he would be willing to help the police solve these old crimes..........
@oh, come on,
It's called Conspiracy
@GP homeschool mom,
Clayton was referring 2 Arnold. His dad's name was Gustav (1907-1972). Gustav served in World War II, after he voluntarily applied to join the Nazi Party in 1938.
Source: Wikipedia.
What you all are missing here - and was not reported in this article - is that the LAPD believes Watson waived his right to client-attorney privilege because he MADE THESE TAPES AVAILABLE to the co-author of a book he collaborated on. So this is not the big bad police trying to circumvent the rights of a criminal. By making these tapes available for a published work, Watson opened the door to questions about whether client-attorney privilege still applied. Watson claims he "only waived his right to client-attorney privilege for the book" - but is that legally permissible? To pick and choose when legal rights to privacy apply?
"republican/tea party advocate" "Obama's followers"
I so hate election years. U people do know that there R political boards 4 U 2 post on, right?
Ugh!
"War. War. War. This war talk has spoiled all the fun at every party this spring. I get so bored I could scream. If either of U mentions war just once again, I'll go in the house & slam the door!"
did anyone else notice cockroaches crawling all over the reporter?
@homeschoolmom: You are absolutely correct and you answered the question beautifully that some are asking about why drum up the past.
The legal precedent is set, the tapes are NOT available to the police without the permission of Tex Watson. Him giving his permission to a ghost writer for a book does no more relieve him of his right to attorney client privilege than allowing his attorney's secretary to hear the tapes for transcription purposes. If the LA DA is truly interested in listening to the tapes for evidence in other crimes, his only option is to offer Watson immunity from prosecution for any crimes that are mentioned on the tapes. Watson's refusal to allow the LAPD access to the tapes isn't about his 4th amendment right to privacy, it is about his 5th amendment right to not be forced to incriminate himself.
Tex's attorney is just as quilty as Tex as far as I'm concerned, now. I well remember the killings, Sharon Tate was a beutiful actress taken from us way too soon, and if I'm not mistaken she was pregnant when she was killed so Tex and all of those who took part in her killing should have been charged with two murders.
And for all you tying in politics, these murders had NOTHING to do with politics it did have to do with illegal use of drugs and getting high from them.
Why should an admitted multiple murderer have any rights? He took the rights of many when he took their lives, even an unborn child.
As for Manson, he is a cold blooded, evil, mastermind. He controlled these people. He is the epitome of a cult leader. I will never understand how he did it but he is still doing it today. He is still reaching people today, from behind bars. Just visit some of the websites dedicated to him and see how many followers he really has and how young some of them are. Some of them have commented on this board. Sends chills down my spine.
Lt Scrounge "it is about his 5th amendment right to not be forced to incriminate himself."
But who forced him to say those things on tape?
No one forced him to, he made that choice to say whatever he said on those tapes...and so, he's not being forced to incriminate himself...he willingly chose to do it.
And no one forced him to make $49,000 off the sale of the tapes to a writer, either. I thought criminals weren't supposed to profit from their actions?
Even the cock roach in a Manson story makes the news. Irony?
In case you have been in a coma for 40+ years, you would know that Manson didn't kill anyone.
While he may be deranged and should never be set free, that alone isn't enough to execute someone.
So drag politics into every article all you want, as that is what you do best.
Oh, believe it or not, the Supreme court handed down rulings making life in prison cheaper than the death penalty.
Its only because of these sick twisted liberals that these murderers are even breathing right now. Why should any of these people be allowed to escape the death penalty?? This is the shape of Liberal politics in Kalifornia. We have mass murderers who were duly convicted over 20 years ago (Richard Ramirez aka Nightstalker) and we cant get these people executed because of stupid liberals getting in the way of Justice. Im sick of this crap. Each day these liberal idiots ruin someone elses lives because they dont want to punish the criminals. Liberals R Commies. Period. No decent minded Christian can be a liberal or belong to a liberal party without violating Gods laws.
@NYMike..
WRONG!! Read you're law mutton head.. If a robbery (or any other crime takes place) ALL participants are equally guilty of the crime, be they mastermind or get-away driver.. If a murder(s) occurs during this crime then all involved are upgraded to murder and accessory to murder. Just because the cockroach hid behind the wood paneling doesn't mean he isn't a cockroach.
@Rangewolf
"Manson's followers are so much like Obama's followers."..
You're a pathetic idiot, pinhead.. Spewing you're political bigotry where it doesn't belong is atrocious. You're insulting a majority of you're fellow Americans with no qualms concerning you're stupidity.. What if it's found out that Manson and his followers were Pubs, what would you say? Never mind, I'm sure it would be just as ignorant. Crawl back under you're rock, nut job.
Princessbride is correct. Tex SOLD those tapes to a writer and, therefore, waived privilege. His rights are not being violated. Also, the person who claimed SCOTUS waived the death penalty is incorrect. The California Supreme Court was the one who overturned the death penalty, not SCOTUS.
Wow Saul, how can you be taken seriously if you have to call people names?
Real mature of you. I stand behind my words though. He didn't kill anyone, and as such, the death penalty doesn't apply.
I await your reply with you signature name calling style.
Oh brother. When Tex was first arrested in his hometown he had lots of protection not only from the legal community but the police as well. Nothing liberal about that area. He also seems to have had the backing of the townspeople and the courts there did their very best to keep him from being extridited. So quit with the liberal bashing. Countless conservatives have tried to keep their own from paying a price for their crimes.
If it's taxpayer money, it's free money from the government so it doesn't matter. It's FREE. What a great country.
It seems our rights are slowly being whittled away one at a time. Just look at what has happened in the name of homeland security, have you been to an airport lately. Now if a law official thinks your a terrorist they no longer need a search warrant to enter your house. I just want to know who decides if your a terrorist, some Podunk sheriff in the backwoods. I felt better when a judge was involved, and there was probable cause established.
it was my understanding that Watson waived attorney-client privilege during his book deal. And with the death of his original lawyer, the privilege no longer exists for Watson. There are still unsolved homicides out there, and maybe this tape discusses some of them. The tape should be studied using modern forensics techniques instead of just "listening" to it.
FYI, Manson was present at and participated directly in several murders, so he received a fair trial and a better life than any of his victims. The thing that amazes me the most about Manson is the sheer stupidity of his "followers". His songwriting was barely mediocre, his voice was grating and brittle, his guitar playing was like a sluggish out-of-tune 8 year old with a bad sense of timing, and his "teachings" blending the Beatles and the Bible were simply infantile. If any of his so-called "followers" had an ounce of intelligence, they should have seen right through his sorry hypocritical crap. Terry Melcher was correct in his assessment of Manson's lack of talent, but why did his followers not see through him?
deweydan
What a coldhearted comment. Obviously it was not one of your loved ones who was murdered.
And I don't even understand why Manson is eligible to parole, he is as guilty, if not more, then all his "family members" who committed the murders.
I agree with you Anna......what a fool....SO just because it was a long time ago it doesn't matter? REALLY tell that to Sharon Tate's family....I'm sure they don't remember her beautiful face and certainly have forgotten about her unborn baby they killed so evil it takes my breath away.....Today,yesterday,tomorrow until I die I would think of my daughter everyday,everyday and everyday....and my grand baby I never got to see or hold or love or hear the words Nana that never goes away... EVER......the GUY is a complete idiot Anna
sure..blame them on charlie....it's not like the LAPD doesn't have more current crimes to slove...
1.read article not just headline
2.comprehend same
3. post
Tramp,
Don't tap on the aquarium. It annoys the fish.
@ Mike, it's about closure for the victims' families, stay focus.
What am I missing here? I have little to zilch sympathy for the Manson family on anything, but, I always thought the lawyer/client relationship was sacrosanct.
Am I the only one that noticed the cockroach running around on the reporters shoulder in the beginning? He had to of noticed that or they added it to the video after they shot it...
On Blast, Yes I noticed that huge roach, HOw Gross!!!!!! I'm scared to death of those big ones.
thats what she said.......................
What I remember most about that dreadful year in August of 1969 was "who" the women of the Manson family really were...not street urchins but immensely educated girls from good families, one of whom, was a Vassar student. Not exactly your poor kid committing horrendous crimes, right?
Much of the drugs that came into the US in the 60's was brought back by what remained of our Viet Nam vets. Ask any Viet Nam vet how much drugging some of their ranks were involved in. This is what I heard from Viet Nam vets in my own graduating high school class years after they returned from that horrible war.
That was good. Just seem to fit right there. Those families are most definately entitled to "Closure" (whatever that is) but not at the cost of "Confidentiality Between A Lawyer and His Client". They cross that line and it's over. "NOBODY" will get a fair trial, instead of only the ones who can pay for it. But...what I don't get is why Tex is fighting it???? Dudes already doing ALL DAY in the pen so what's a few more murders on his rap sheet? The L.A.P.D. just wants to try and look good for once instead of like criminals themselves for shooting innocent people. And...Charlie, I think he's a Genious. Anyone who can convince a bunch of other people to go out and commit such vile acts w/out getting his own hands dirty is pretty damn smart, but they say most geniouses are border-line psychotic.
Charles Manson aint dumb. That's how he got these people, with his mind! Brilliant, but evil.
Irony of the day: Angela Lansbury (star of Murder She Wrote) used to give her underage daughter notes allowing her to be out after curfew with Charles Manson.
dude where did you get this info???
It was part of the official investigation. Find the following, and you'll see the rest:
When Manson and his minions were tried many were given the death penalty in California.Then the death penalty was overturned and in kind any person on death row had their sentencing overturned to life in prison with no parole.When the death penalty was reinstated it did not pertain to those who had their sentencing overturned to life in prison.Now we are facing an election to overturn the death penalty again in California.I'm voting against it.I want the death penalty to remain and I'd like to see California start executing these people who have exhausted their appeals process.Our sentencing system should be to give justice to the victims family.
WHO seriously care's about the rights of this cold blooded killer.......WHEN he took the lives of innocent people and went to prison...HE HAS NO MORE RIGHTS....what about the families closer would be nice...ohhhhhhh no let's protect a PIG like him......OHHHH I know it is the law it's his right's....he should have been put to death many years ago shame he has lasted this long.
WELL TOO BAD THESE FREAKS ARENT IN TEXAS>>>>they would be executed by now and saved California millions....oh well people from California are not know for doing anything that makes sense.
I always believed that they killed before the big slaughter.
They were to practiced and too unmoved with what they had done.
The savagery that they used on the victims they are in prison for, shows they did not just wake up one morning and do it without practice. They enjoyed it too much.
Which is why they should never release any of them. We may never know, but if those tapes do provide some insight, at least they are still paying for the murders.
They did - read 'Helter Skelter' by Vincent Bugliosi (the lead prosecutor) - they just didn't have evidence for the earlier murders, only statements from members of the 'family.'
But still....even if they are serving time already,Im sure the families would like to know the truth. I for one think they should have been executed and forsure now if those tapes have more murder evidence on them
In the event that the tapes do reveal information about more murders, and the lawyer knows about them and has suppressed the information all these years, the lawyer should also face charges of accessory to murder and be jailed with his client! Sh1t like this is not acceptable, especially in the USA!
Nope - first the lawyer is dead - second I am pertty sure attorney client prvalege is in play - the attorney can not reveal what his client says - just like a clergyman cant reveal what is said in confession. Substitute Priest?Clergy?Confessor for attorney - would you be advocating jailing them?
Yep.
Rule 501: Although the original proposal included thirteen rules providing for various privileges, Congress struck all of them. To guide privileges in the federal courts, Congress adopted Rule 501. The rule specified that except as otherwise provided by Act of Congress or by other federal rules, privileges in the federal courts would be "governed by the principles of the common law as they may be interpreted by the courts of the United States in the light of reason and experience."[5] Rule 501 meant that the entire purpose of the FRE (to provide clarity and supersede prior case law) was defeated in the specific context of the law of privileges. Thus, to this day, attorneys practicing in U.S. federal courts must carefully research current case law to determine the contours of available privileges. In contrast, the California Evidence Code, from which the original proposal had been drawn, had expressly codified all evidentiary privileges, so that any further privileges in state courts would have to come from the California State Legislature.
I believe that California state legislature could order this file open.
Lower courts cannot just arbitrarily disregard confidentiality privilege. That would be chaos.
WHAT THE HELL was it that crawled across the shoulders and back of Robert Kavosic??????????
it was a huge cockroach.............. gross! i couldn't even watch the rest of it i started to itch
That "Bug" is a ghetto cockroach. La Cuckaracha!!! LOL
I saw it too. Looks like a giant cockroach of some kind. Maybe a cicada, or Junebug? It was creepy.
I know Mr. Watson and worked with him for years. He is a very intelligent man and what happened way back in the past in a drug induced state of mind as a young man has long been paid for. He is a christian and holds the Lord first in his life. ( His ministry "Abounding Love" attests to that) I believe that all this hype about additional murders is nothing more than HYPE by the DA in LA county. Trying to clear their books. Maybe Matson is involved, but I seriously doubt that Mr. Watson was.
That my dear is a VERY LARGE LA Roach. I was so intrigued with the oblivious reporter, "Robert Kovacik" that I had to review this video several times. If you view the reporter during the video the roach at about 17 seconds into it, RUNS up the left arm of Robert then across his shoulders to appear on his right shoulder. Then MR. Roach circles around on Robert's right arm, shoulder, and back then across his shoulders again to his left arm dissappearing about his elbow. WOW, Robert Kovacik is either zoned or the consumate actor...."The Show Must Go On".... He deserves an Academy Award or WHATEVER news reporters get for superb performance under difficult circumstances. Wonder if the camera operator saw it? Not a jiggle there either!!! Great Job.
If "Matson" was involed so was "Mr. Watson" alot of people have or had "drug induced state of mind" never came up to the level of these people. Watson was Manson's right hand man. He's in it up to his neck and even the LORD approves capital punishment.
I am absolutely astonished by the total lack of knowledge shown here in these comments concerning the Constitution and the basic law-of-the-land which is in place to protect the rights of the accused, the innocent, and the guilty as well. We, as a nation of law, cannot allow ourselves to be swayed toward any system other than the one we currently live under simply because it "seems like the right thing to do at that time". Laws are established by measuring EACH OF THEM against the Gold Standard of Law which is the united states Constitution for America. If it lines up with that standard and represents the overall best interests of the people, it becomes law once it is voted on by our Representatives. If the law being considered invalidates the provisions of the Constitution and unfairly gives rights to one class of citizens (the survivors of the murdered) while stripping the rights away from even a dirt bag like T. Watson, it should not be allowed to stand.
How loud does a person have to shout something before it is heard and understood? The body of Constitutional law is in place to protect EVERYONE! It protects even those who we might personally believe to be either guilty of a crime or who we feel do not "deserve" the protection which the Constitution affords them. There is no reason, NO REASON, to override our individual Constitutional rights! No Patriot Act, no NDAA, no admission of ill attained evidence by law enforcement into a court of law, no self-incrimination, no arrest or search of premises without a warrant, no exposure of privileged communications, no interrogation or questioning of a suspect without the presence and advice of legal council, et. al. should ever be allowed in this, the freest of any country in the world, period. Someone else said it before, we cannot ignore a law, especially if ignoring that law deprives someone of their right to protection by the Constitution, from the whims of a fickle populace because it feels good to do so at the time. Use reason not emotion when it comes to living with and abiding to the laws which have protected us and retained our personal freedoms for the last 229 years that the Constitution has been in effect.
Tex was and is a moron! He was led just like the sheep that followed Manson. The only difference was that Tex IS A SOCIOPATH and enjoyed killing.
Whoever said the Manson followers were educated is wrong. They were sheep, narrow minded idiots that thrived on adrenaline and drugs. Tex was the same, but he also LOVED TO KILL.
Squeeky Frohm tried to assassinate a President and it wasn't because Manson told her to, it's because she is a sociopath too! I didn't matter if an idiot like Manson was involved or not. His friends were sociopaths and never did adjust to society very well. Even the girls had issues all their lives. Only one of them has amounted to anything close to a normal human being. And she scares me still because she's easily manipulated with a weak mind!
FOR THOSE of you who said they knew or know Watson and he has changed because he found God and his time has been spent..........WOW are you kidding me? Have you thought for one minute about the mothers and fathers,sisters,brothers of the people that have to live with the fact their family member was violently MURDERED !!!! I will tell you if that was my BEAUTIFUL daughter that they cut up and killed her and her unborn baby....He would be DEAD as @!$%# I'd do it myself I would go to that prison everyday with a sign to execute him.......I'm a Christian but that is beyond me how YOU COULD say that....I have 4 daughters and they just had babies...OH MY GOD he will not EVER spend enough time to make up for that in her mothers heart......It always bothers me that people go to prison to find God and then everyone else is suppose to think OH WELL he was on Drugs or Meth or Drunk etc......BUT they found GOD......that doesn't work anymore for me especially with this kind of killing it was beyond EVIL
That Federal Judge is a Moron! There are people that need closure!
Should be some course of action that could override a foul decision, there was a crime and the legal system is covering it up? that makes no sense. lawyers and judges should not be allowed to obstruct justice any more than you or I. another thing that makes no sense is why are people like Tex Watson allowed to breed?
Should be some course of action that could override a foul decision, there was a crime and the legal system is covering it up? that makes no sense. lawyers and judges should not be allowed to obstruct justice any more than you or I. another thing that makes no sense is why are people like Tex Watson allowed to breed?
I'm still very unclear about who it is that might have been a victim of those psychos and who it is the authorities think are or were the killers. Who are these deceased people? I've yet to hear a name and I'd really like to know why money and precious police resources are being used to fight over these tapes. Who is at the cops and the D.A to find out who may have killed their family member? I think this is some serious grandstanding by the LAPD and the prosecutor's office and it's called a fishing expedition for a reason. They have no grounds to go down this road that would more than likely lead nowhere. They need to focus on murders that happened last week, last month, last year, five years ago, or the thousands of SAE kits never processed and sitting in cold storage with living victims waiting years for their justice, not trying to solve cases of...who exactly? Just boggles the mind.
That Federal Judge is much more intelligent than those of you who don't understand the Democratic legal system in this country.
Calling that judge a moron is like saying you're not a huge ignoramus!
So, if this investigation in still open, is there still attorney/client priveledge if the attorney is now dead? The tapes didn't get transferred to the next attorney (if there is one), so what's stopping the search? Moreover, what does it matter to Mr. Watson? He's not going anywhere......
Other than it is his rights that would be violated and his choice to waive them.
What rights, he is a convicted felon doing life, he should have been tossed into the wood chipper feet first at a low idle, when you spend your free time going around killing people for no real reason other then to kill you don't deserve rights being extended beyond sentencing. the only rights a pig like that deserves is a slow execution. only in California can the legal system be so abused.
D Buck,
Your statement is exactly why the U.S. Constitution was written the way it was.
I think as long as either party is alive, the privilege pertains.
If Watson really was a true Christian, he would confess and come clean. Obviously he wants parole more than forgiveness. Truth will set you free..........................................remember that ?
But did Watson waive his right to client-attorney privilege when he made these tapes available to the co-author of his book? That is a question that should be decided by the courts. It's not client-attorney-co-author privilege. Since he made the tapes available outside the client-attorney relationship, then there's a good change the privacy laws no longer apply.
Oh, and he made nearly $50,000 by waiving his right to client-attorney privilege and selling these tapes to the co-author. Does that change things?
The privilege belongs to the client and in most states it even extends after that person's death, unless the court can get the next of kin to waive it, or the person leaves a will or something stating the attorney can reveal what they were told by that client once the client has died. Whether he has waived privilege by allowing a third party to listen to the tapes is a very complicated legal question. Attorney/client privilege is nearly impossible to pierce so this could be an interesting case, though, IMO, it's a waste of time and no crime will ever be solved even if the cops and the D.A. get their hands on them at some point. I just would like to know how much time, money and resources they are willing to put into fighting over these tapes about what are at the moment unknown possible crimes committed by people who are most likely already in prison or dead.
I don't know, this just sounds like an easy way to write off unsolved crimes from days gone bye. That's one way to clear the Desks for 'Action'?
you got it.......you may have a cookie................
Wow, someone who actually gets it. Infamous criminals, cop or prosecutor who's never had that "career" case trying to leave their mark before they retire or whatever, most likely no actual prosecutions forthcoming, BUT they all get their names in the paper. You may have TWO cookies!
Cookies from Crumbs, just what I needed.
District Attorneys do this all the time, why should the police be given special privileges when they use the same tactics on the civilians. Believe me, I hold no sympathy for the Manson gang, but I'm against giving more power to the police.
Why does this animal still live? Surely what could be the fascination?
a real boogey-man for Halloween?
He still lives because 1 - he hasn't died; and 2 - I am pretty sure he fell under the period of time when CA did not have the death penalty
Hollykb - you're right - Manson was originally sentenced to death but the sentence was changed to life when the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the death penalty was unconstitutional because the gas chamber was 'cruel and unusual' punishment. When the states changed their exeuction methods, the death penalty could not be retroactively renewed for those like Manson because of the Constitional guarantee against ex post facto laws.
It's Ted Watson, not Manson who's under scrutiny in this case.
Carry on.
Actually, it's Charles "Tex" Watson, and it seems the entire "family" is under scrutiny.
How many of these murders have sat in prison and said, "I am a new person, I have changed, I should be freed from jail?". If there are others that were murdered by these scum bags then none of them are a new person or have changed because they would have told about these other murders and this Tex Watson dude, he thinks he should be freed because he has changed, sorry buddy, not allow the release of these tapes prove to everyone you have not changed, if you have changed, those tapes should not reveal nothing you have not said publicly. These people should have heard the flip of the switch years ago!!!
You didn't even try reading the story did you? Hint-no one is trying to free Watson
I did read the story, and I know by reading the news on a regular basis, that not once has Watson missed a parole hearing for himself...tells me he wants out of prison!
What prisoner doesn't want out of prison? If he had a parole hearing once a month for the rest of his miserable life he'd never get out.
Those women who have spent 80% of their lives in prison DESERVE release. Without Manson, and with years of experience behind them, they're no longer the same women who were sent to prison back in the 70's. People CHANGE in 40 years-are any of YOU the same person you were in your late teens/early 20's? No, you're not-you've grown and changed (at least I HOPE you have!). I believe Watson should die in prison, but the ladies deserve a chance. Here in Indy we had the Sylvia Likens murder case-a 37 yr old woman was in control of a bunch of teens who beat 16 yr old Sylvia to death, & the woman(Gertrude Baniczewski)-possibly bad spelling of her last name-was sent to prison for life. She did something like 30 yrs, was finally released, changed her name and went to work as a maid until her death from lung cancer. Prison is SUPPOSED to be about rehabilitation as well as punishment, but NOT vengeance! And you people are advocating vengeance without even KNOWING anything about the lives of these women NOW. May people not be so judgmental of YOU......
O M G ! Those evil women are the ones who started it ALL. Charles Manson was into sex, drugs and Rock-n Roll,,and was noted for working on cars and motorcycles...and I'm sure he knew THEY were the pigs....
gee if they get a hold of those tapes it could look bad for;
And he could be in serious trouble maybe even see some jail time out of it..............
Unfortunately, there is a little thing known as 'attorney-client privilege'.
That Attorney- client privilage is how insider trading flourishes. The other question is how did he have children in prison?
Conjugal visits are allowed in many prisons. Besides, they had dozens of children in the commune.
Convicted serial murderers should not get conjugal visits. What kind of prisons are allowing Watson to father 4 kids? Looks like the nuts are running the asylum there.
How does he support them? Commune? Don't you mean tribal children from the Global Village?
There they go again, blaming Charlie for everything.
You know some of you act like he is some innocent person that did nothing wrong. He did, in fact, violently murder people. The police obviously have reason to suspect his involvement and I am sure have information that we don't have. They HAVE to look into any possible link to a murder (or in this case a series of murders). That is their job. If the police and FBI only suspected people they were 100 percent sure were involved, then there would be a lot more unsolved crimes. Stop acting like Charlie is a victim here. If the police are wrong, then at least they ruled him out as a suspect.
Actually Charles Manson never murdered anyone. He set the murders in motion and manipulated people to do it for him. No he is cerainly not innocent and I hope he dies in jail. But he actually never committed the crime of murder. Hopefully he will never make it out of jail and should have been put to death long ago for his involvement.
let me rephrase that. He was not charged with murder. God only knows what all he has actually done..
Conspiracy to commit murder is a crime. Whether it was a criminal offense when these murders took place is unknown.
How could the LA police NOT have linked this many unsolved murders AT THE TIME to the Manson murders? If in fact they are similar as this article leads us to believe.
There still digging up bodies in the area, no one knows how many murders the family committed. those freaks have bodies buriedall over half the state. even as recently as last year they were grave hunting the Manson hangouts. how many of you have read the book Helter Skelter if you pick it up you wont be able to put it down.
They are not "still" digging up any bodies anywhere. They went out hunting at the former Barker Ranch in Death Valley about 2 years ago, took dogs, diggers, sonar equipment and anything else they might need and they found exactly nada. This court fight is just as big a waste of time. I wonder 100 years from now if they will finally give it up, but seeing the 124 year old fascination with and the attempt to solve the Jack the Ripper murders, my guess is no.
There is no statute of limitations on murder. The police must investigate these murders and provide closure for the families or any additional arrests, that may occur, once additional evidence is obtained. There were many manson family members who never went to prison --- I am pretty sure some of them may have had involvement, in some of these murders and they are walking around free in society --- is that justice?
Holy Crap!! Did you see the size of that bug crawling all over the on-scene reporter in the video clip??
I missed that the first time I watched, lol. Please tell me that's not a cockroach. Yuck, that's what it looks like.
ewwwwwwwwwwww omg
I did! I did! It was like watching the guy from the "Mummy" come back to life. I wanted to see it go into his mouth and watch him chew it like it was air. The report stayed on key the whole time.
I did! I had to watch it a couple times. funny. surprised they aired that
omg you a hilarious!!! i can't stop laughing at your comment
It was essentially a giant cockroach in FLa they are called Palmetto Bugs.
...that is a monster roach, with a serious attitude ....
that was the first thing i noticed.....that is f'ing GROSSS!
that's actually called a "Canary Cockroach" they can actually fly believe it or not. I have personally seen them fly before.
Google pictures for it, u will see
In Arizona (Phoenix) we called them sewer roaches, yes they can fly, and stay submerged in water for a long time. We trapped one at the bottom of a pool for over three hours, and when we let it go it just rose to the top swam over to the side and crawled out and went on it's way. Manson, Tex, the "Family" - BuwaaHahahahahahahah! Happy Holloween!
Am I the only person that noticed the GIANT waterbug crawling on the reporter in the beginning of his report?
Like throwing more jail time onto their sentences is gonna hurt their wittle feelers....
No, but it might give some closure to families who have lost loved ones. Some of you seem to forget that for every body they found, there is likely a family somewhere with a missing child/brother/sister, etc. that still has no clue what happened to their loved one. What a hard thing that must be to deal with...to not know what happened. The murders should be solved if for no other reason that to give the families closure.
DOnt forget there were at least 3 of Manson's followers NOT CHARGED originally. There are also a couple of the girls who have been paroled (at least I think they were). If there is evidence that they participated in other murders they could be arrested and retried.
But the evidence should not be gotten at the expense of violating attorney client privelege, not to protect the rights of these people but rather to protect the rights of us all. Once that starts happening not matter how heinous the crime what is to prevent it in other instances, and what next gets violated.
bug all i saw was a bug
and he saw....YOU........
Hopefully these tapes will bring convictions on these two and they can finally be put to death. They are both getting old and soon their medical bills will be piling up and the tax payers will have to foot the bill. I wonder if any of the girls convicted participated in these deaths. Just more savings for the taxpayers if they did.
Ewww Cockaroache!!! Crawling all over the news Anchor in the Begining, Freaked me out!
I enjoyed watching the roach crawl all over Robert Kovacik's shoulders at the beginning of the video.... hahahaaaa!!!!!
It would be nice for the families of said victims to get closure no matter who did it.
Manson and crew should have been deep fried a long time ago.
this might be a little more than just pinning some unsolved on "the family"....but ,what reallyBUGS me ,is that huge cockroach running around on that reporter...!
do you see a cochroach on the reporter hes running all over the top of his shoulders~!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
As I said it was a lawyer in disguise.
yup a huge 1
omg....yes. i was wondering if anyone was going to comment on the cockroach
.