Helter Skelter (scenario)

In both the trial and his subsequent (1974) book, Helter Skelter: The True Story of the Manson Murders, prosecutor Vincent Bugliosi presented evidence that, in a period that preceded the murders, Manson prophesied what he called Helter Skelter, an apocalyptic war that would arise from racial tensions between black and white people.

A major part of the evidence was the testimony of Paul Watkins, a Family member who was not involved in the crimes and who presented the vision in full form.

Writers, police detectives, attorneys involved with the case, and perpetrators have contended that the crimes were copycat killings, revenge for a bad drug deal, or a combination thereof.

As assembled by Bugliosi, the evidence of the vision indicated that Manson had been predicting racial conflict for some time before he used the term Helter Skelter.

[2]: 247 [5][6] Manson, according to Family member Brooks Poston, "said a group of real blacks would come out of the ghettos and do an atrocious crime in the richer sections of Los Angeles and other cities.

They prepared vehicles and other items for escape from their Los Angeles base to Death Valley, when the days of violence would arrive.

"[7] On the night of August 9–10, 1969, Manson and several Family members drove to the Los Angeles home of Leno and Rosemary LaBianca, who were murdered.

In trial testimony, an interview with the Los Angeles Times, or autobiography, Linda Kasabian, Susan Atkins, and Tex Watson, who were in the party, stated that Manson guided the group to the home, directed the tying-up of the LaBiancas or said he'd tied them up, or gave instruction as to the killings.

[2] : 266–69 [2] : 322 [11][12] In LaBianca blood, one or more female Family members wrote "Healter [sic] Skelter" on the refrigerator and "Rise" and "Death to Pigs" on walls.

[12] On the previous night, August 8–9, Tex Watson and three female Family members had driven to 10050 Cielo Drive, in Beverly Hills, where pregnant actress Sharon Tate and four other persons were murdered.

"[13] On October 12, 1969, during the arrests that led to the charges in the murders, California Highway Patrol officer James Pursell found Manson at Barker Ranch.

"[15][2]: 247 In Helter Skelter, Bugliosi writes that Manson told "numerous people", including former Barker gang member Alvin Karpis, that "given the chance, he could be much bigger than the Beatles.

As Family members listened to the White Album repeatedly over the following days, they believed it:At that point Charlie's credibility seemed indisputable.

[2]: 137 The following summarizes Bugliosi's account of statements made to him by Family members Paul Watkins and Brooks Poston and talent scout Gregg Jakobson.

While on LSD at a party in late March 1969, Watson states in his autobiography, he and two Manson girls realized they themselves were "the monkeys ... just bright-eyed, free little animals, totally uninhibited," as they started "bouncing around the apartment, throwing food against the walls, and laughing hysterically".

It was exciting, amazing stuff Charlie was teaching, and we'd sit around him for hours as he told us about the land of milk and honey we'd find underneath the desert and enjoy while the world above us was soaked in blood.Abbey Road was released in the United Kingdom in late September 1969[31][32][33] after the murders.

[16]: 288 Law officers raided the desert locations in the second week of October, found the Family with stolen vehicles, and arrested Manson and several others.

In October 1970, the prosecution offered testimony about the door during Manson's trial for the Tate-LaBianca murders, but only the "Helter Skelter" inscription seems to have been noted.

By his own account, he bought a cassette recording of Abbey Road and played it continuously while walking for miles across the desert, to rejoin the group; he was hoping to see what The Beatles might have to tell him.

One of the Manson girls spoke of this incident as "Maxwell's Silver Hammer", an Abbey Road song about homicidal madness.

"[35] Manson was permitted to testify at his 1970 trial for the Tate–LaBianca murders, after the defendants' attorneys had attempted to rest their cases, without calling a single witness.

Because of concerns related to California's People v. Aranda (1965), having to do with a defendant's statements that might implicate co-defendants, it was decided that Manson would first testify without the jury in the courtroom.

If you can't see the confusion coming down around you fast, you can call it what you wish.When Manson was asked by Bugliosi, after the testimony, whether he'd be willing to testify in the same manner in the presence of the jury, the defense objected.