Killer Charles Manson dies in prison
CHARLES Manson, the psychopathic guru who masterminded a savage killing spree in the United States in the late 1960s that shocked the world, has died aged 83, California prison officials said.
Debra Tate, the sister of Manson’s most famous victim, Sharon Tate, said she had received a call from prison officials notifying her of Manson’s death.
In the late 1960s, Manson headed an apocalyptic cult that committed random murders in upscale mostly white neighbourhoods of Los Angeles -- unleashing a wave of panic in the city and beyond.
The aim was for African Americans to be blamed, in the hope of sparking what he believed to be an impending and apocalyptic race war.
His “Family” disciples committed at least nine murders, but it was the horrific killing spree of seven people on August 9-10 1969 that sealed his notoriety, and earned him life in prison.
The famous victim was 26year-old film actress Sharon Tate, the heavily pregnant wife of director Roman Polanski, who pleaded for the life of her unborn child before she was stabbed to death. Manson was not present, but had ordered the killings.
One of his followers, Susan Atkins, carried out Tate’s murder, after which she tasted the actress’s blood and wrote “PIG” with it on the home’s front door.
Manson, who has never shown remorse, was sentenced to death in 1971 along with four of his disciples for having led the killings of seven people.
The sentences were later commuted to life in prison when Cal- ifornia abolished the death penalty.
During his trial, Manson, with a beard, long unwashed hair and a swastika tattooed on his forehead, was portrayed as a drug-crazed loner with mesmerising powers of persuasion.
Upon his death, he had been in prison in California since 1971, during which time he applied for parole 12 times, telling the court on the last occasion in 2012 that he was “a very dangerous man”.
In each case, he was denied release.
In a 1981 interview conducted from jail, Manson said he had already spent most of his life in prison and felt at home there.