Linda Kasabian Testimony
Manson-Atkins-Krenwinkel-Van Houten Trial Testimony
Linda Kasabian cross-examined by Irving Kanarek (August 5, 1970):
(As the jurors were entering the jury box, Atkins, Krenwinkel and Van Houten
stood and said "Your Honor, the President said we are guilty, so why go on with
the trial?" Judge ordered them to sit down.)
Q: Mrs. Kasabian, on the night, on the second night that you left the Spahn
Ranch, did you know that you had participated with three other people who, all
together, you and the three other people together, had killed five people?
A: No.
Q: Directing your attention, Mrs. Kasabian, to the second night and your
state of mind, your thinking as you left the Spahn Ranch on the second night,
did you know that what you and three other people had done the night before
caused the killing of five people?
A: I don’t understand the question.
Q: You don’t understand that question?
A: Right.
Q: What about the question don’t you understand?
A: Well, I don’t know what the answer is.
Q: You mean you don’t know what answer Mr. Bugliosi wants you to give?
BUGLIOSI: Your Honor, I object to this. These are unbelievably outrageous
remarks.
OLDER: Mr. Kanarek, if you repeat that I will have to take some action
against you. The jury is admonished to disregard this colloquy between counsel.
(Missing testimony. Traced Kasabian’s steps when Kasabian left Spahn Ranch
after the murders and drove to New Mexico. Attempted to show she planned to
retrieve Rosemary LaBianca’s wallet from the gas station where it had been
hidden. Kanarek showed Kasabian crime scene photographs.)
Q: Mrs. Kasabian, you looked through the window, didn’t you, in that house?
A: Yes.
Q: Mrs. Kasabian, I ask you...
(Kanarek showed another crime photo to Kasabian.)
A: Oh, god.
(Older declared a recess. Kasabian’s attorney, Ronald Goldman, spoke to Judge
Older in Chambers.)
GOLDMAN: In the first place, your Honor, I want to make an objection to the
court to the tactics that are being employed by Mr. Kanarek at this time in
exhibiting certain photographs in connection with this case where there has been
no evidence introduced concerning my client’s percipient testimony, or the fact
that she was a witness in or to the matters that were being shown. The evidence
has shown that she was not a witness nor did she see the scenes depicted in that
photograph, No. 87, and I imagine that there are other photos concerning others
who were inside that residence. I submit, your Honor, it is improper courtroom
decorum, improper tactics of counsel unless he lays a foundation that they have
some relevancy to her testimony.
(Older said the defense had a right to show Kasabian the photos.)
OLDER: It may well be that the shock of that alone would cause her to change
her story, if she were lying, and admit it. I agree that the photographs should
not be displayed until after the question has been put to the witness and the
court has had a chance to rule on any objection. I agree it is improper to stand
up there with a photograph in your hand for five minutes, and put it in her hand
and have her hold it, while you go through a series of questions that have
nothing to do with the photograph.
(Possible missing testimony.)
Q: Now, Mrs. Kasabian, on how many instances, Mrs. Kasabian, did you have
sexual relations with Mr. Watson?
A: Two or three times.
Q: Two or three times?
A: Yes.
Q: Now, could it have been more than that?
A: Not that I can remember.
Q: You mean it might possibly be more than that?
A: It could be, yes, but I remember just two specific instances, and possibly
a third.
Q: Is it a fair statement that while you were at the Spahn Ranch you had
sexual relations with many people?
A: Yes.
Q : With many men?
A: With the men at the ranch, yes.
Q: All of the men at the ranch; right?
A: Not all of the men, no.
Q: Well, will you tell us those with whom you had sexual relations?
A: Charlie, Tex, Bruce, a guy named Chuck, Bobbie. That is all. And Clem.
Q: Anyone else?
A: No, not that I can remember.
Q: And it is a fair statement, is it, that you enjoyed sexual relations?
BUGLIOSI: That is immaterial. Object.
OLDER: Sustained.
Q: Well, Mrs. Kasabian, I am now asking you: At the time that you state that
you ran toward the house with the thought that you were going into the house, at
that time - at that time - were you in a state of shock?
A: Yes, I guess so.
Q: And so, being in a state of shock, you don’t know whether you went into
the house or not; is that correct?
A: I know I didn’t go into that house.
Q: You know you didn’t?
A: Yes.
Q: Or is it a fair statement to say that you wish you didn’t?
STOVITZ: That is objected to as argumentative, your Honor.
OLDER : Sustained.
KANAREK: Your Honor, may I approach the witness in connection with a
photograph?
(Permission granted. Kararek dropped folder of crime photos in front of jury
box.)
Q: Mrs. Kasabian, I show you this picture.
A: Oh, God. How could you do that?
BUGLIOSI: She has already looked at it, your Honor. Is there any necessity
for him to continue flashing it in front of her face?
KANAREK: Your Honor, it seems like I am the one that is always the villain.
OLDER: Just a moment. Mrs. Kasabian, did you see the photograph?
A: Yes, I did.
OLDER: Did you see it well enough to identify the person in the photograph?
A: He was the man I saw at the door.
OLDER: All right. You may return.
KANAREK: Thank you, your Honor.
Q: Mrs. Kasabian, why are you crying right now?
A: Because I can’t believe it. It is just - I don’t know.
Q: You can’t believe what, Mrs. Kasabian?
A: That they could do that.
Q: That they could do that?
A: Yes.
Q: I see. Not that you could do that, but that they could do that.
A: I know I didn’t do that.
Q: You were in a state of shock, weren’t you?
A: That’s right.
Q: Then how do you know?
A: Because I know it. I do not have that kind of thing in me to do such an
animalistic thing.
Q: And you are basing it upon the fact that you don’t have it in you to do
that kind of an animalistic thing?
A: Right.
Q: Is that why you are saying you didn’t do it, right?
A: Right.
Q: Is that why you are saying you didn’t do it, right.
A: I just know I didn’t do it, Mr. Kanarek.
