LAPD probes possible Manson link to more murders

Charles Manson in a Los Angeles court in August 1970 / AFP/Getty Images

DALLAS A federal judge in Texas has blocked an attempt by the Los Angeles Police Department to use a search warrant to obtain decades-old tapes of conversations between a Manson family disciple and his attorney that police believe could help clear up more than a dozen unsolved murders.

U.S. District Judge Richard A. Schell's ruling stopped authorities from executing a search warrant earlier this month for the office of the bankruptcy trustee who has eight cassette tapes containing hours of conversations between Charles "Tex" Watson and attorney Bill Boyd.

Schell criticized the LAPD for what the judge called an apparent attempt to circumvent a court order making the tapes off limits until Watson's appeal of a previous ruling in bankruptcy court can be heard.

"This court understands and respects the desire of the LAPD to seek access to the 42-year-old tapes," Schell wrote in an Oct. 5 ruling. "However, the LAPD has provided no explanation as to why this court should shortcut the usual procedure for determining a bankruptcy appeal given that the investigation the LAPD wishes to reopen involves murders that occurred 42 years ago."

But an LAPD spokesman told The Associated Press on Thursday that urgency is required because investigators believe more than a dozen unsolved homicides could be linked to Manson family members.

"We're just hoping we can get these (tapes) as quickly as possible so we can get to the bottom of these cases," Andrew Smith said.

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Watson, who is serving a life sentence in California for his role in the 1969 murders of actress Sharon Tate and six others, has said in court documents that the LAPD should be allowed to listen to the tapes but not possess them. He also has indicated that the Manson family was not responsible for other killings.

Boyd, who died in 2009, represented Watson when the Manson follower fled to his home state after the murders. The tapes are now in the possession of Linda Payne, the trustee in a Chapter 7 bankruptcy proceeding involving the law firm where Boyd worked.

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In May, the bankruptcy court judge ruled that the LAPD should get the tapes because Watson waived his right to attorney-client privilege when he made them available to the co-author of his 1978 book, "Will You Die for Me? The Man Who Killed for Charles Manson Tells His Own Story." The ruling by Judge Brenda Rhoades in effect supported Payne, who testified that she believed there was no reason not to give police the tapes.

Watson is appealing the decision, and Schell granted a stay until he can hear arguments from both sides. Attorneys for Watson and Payne are still preparing their briefs.

In seeking an emergency ruling from Schell on the search warrant, Payne wrote that the intent to search her office put her "between a rock and a hard place" because, no matter how she responded, she could be considered in contempt.

"If (Payne) complies with the warrant, she risks contempt of this court's stay order," her motion stated. "If (Payne) fails to comply with the warrant, she risks being held in contempt by the state court (that issued it)."

Payne's attorney, Mark Weisbart, said he couldn't comment about the search warrant without consulting Payne, who he said was travelling abroad. Watson's attorney, Kelly Puls, said he wasn't surprised to learn that the LAPD tried to circumvent Schell's order but declined further comment.

The search warrant was signed by state District Judge Mike Snipes 45 minutes before the law enforcement officials sought to execute it. The warrant authorized the officials to seize the tapes "and any other criminal evidence associated with the offense of murder."

The search warrant affidavit, prepared by a Fort Worth police detective using information from the LAPD, has been sealed by Snipes.

In an interview, Snipes said he sealed the affidavit at the request of law enforcement officials who cited the sensitivity of the case and the fact that they believed evidence could be destroyed if the document was made public.

"They convinced me," Snipes said. "I wouldn't have done it otherwise."

Watson, a native of the small North Texas community of Copeville, was a key figure in the Tate-La Bianca murders, one of the most notorious crimes of the 20th century. He, Manson and three others were sentenced to death, but the sentences were commuted to life in prison when the death penalty was briefly outlawed in California in 1972.

Watson was portrayed in trial testimony as Manson's lieutenant, a cruel killer who stabbed Tate, the pregnant wife of film director Roman Polanski, as she begged for her baby's life.

Boyd fought to prevent Watson's extradition from Texas. After Watson was returned to California, he was ruled insane and committed to a mental institution before it was determined he was fit to stand trial.

According to Payne's testimony in bankruptcy court, Boyd sold copies of the tapes to the co-author of Watson's book for $49,000 to cover his legal fees after the killer waived his right to attorney-client privilege. Given those circumstances, the tapes should be made available to the LAPD, she testified.

But Watson, now 66, has argued in court documents that he waived his attorney-client privilege only for the book. He has stated that he's willing to allow the LAPD to listen to the tapes but not take possession of them because he's concerned that the media would gain access, as well.

"In the eyes of justice, I am fully willing for the LAPD to listen to the tapes to satisfy their investigation, but not to take possession, since they are not their property," he wrote in a motion filed in June.

[jackpenn]

I could never understand what the difference in " cold blooded murder" is, that can send one murderer to death, and another murderer to life in prison at the expense of the tax payers? Manson and his accomplices are murderers beyond a shadow of a doubt, along with Siran Siran, who murdered Bobby Kennedy in cold blood with hundreds of witnesses, yet he is still living the life in prison at our expense. The judicial system makes no sense to me, and as far as it being balanced justice, as long as it is a lawyers game performance who wins, it will never be fair. Take O. J. Simpson for example, he had 253 incriminating pieces of evidence against him, making him the only one who could have murdered his ex-wife, with a very strong motive, and he went free.

[judymar14]

I don't believe there are more murders by the Manson clan. It would have come out at the time they were arrested. They all sang like birds, proud of the horrors they did.

[moonglowsun]

OK..someone explain to me what is the difference between the LAPD releasing those tapes and the releasing of the content by the author? Am I missing something here?

[Jonseen]

I'm glad Mr. Watson is willing to cooperate with the LAPD, and I can also understand his reluctance to allow any chance that the news media should get their hands on the tapes. If you READ the entire article, the best explanation for this legal wrangling is in the final 2 paragraphs. I think the article should have said that up TOP, instead of at the bottom.

After all, look at what's happening to the Boy Scouts now since their "secret" files were released by court order; the news media is all over it like vultures and stirring up all kinds of disturbing headlines... it's a nightmare for the Scouts and I think it would be best if the Media never had access to a whole lot of things.

The public's right to know?? Maybe we're better off NOT knowing.

[margroks]

Um...distubing secrets Should be made public so justice can finally be done. That goes for the Scouts as well as for the Manson followers. Evil is evil no matter what you wear or claim to support. Of course, the press will bring this to the fore-that is, after all, their JOB. A free press is critical to our democracy. If the innocent are disturbed by what comes out, well, they should have called for justice originally instead of saying oh, mym this is too horrible! Let's sweep it under the rug.

[signseeker1717]

In general, the only "secrets files" that should stay that way are documents that are part of an ongoing legal process or investigation, or current classified information related to national security. Society as a whole BENEFITS from free access to material, NOT by ignorance.

[phwtb100]

Bankruptcy? How can he have anything left after 42 years in prison?

Everyone of the 'people' involved in that massacre were nothing more than rabid animals- Manson more rabid than any. They should all have been put down quickly and swiftly.

Seems like more and more these days we are being forced to decide what to do- the legal thing or the right thing. How sad that is for this country.

Give the police the tapes; let them have the answers they are looking for. There are other people in need of closure for their loved ones as well.

[indiethink]

Please read the article. Watson has not filed for bankruptcy.

[Birdman04]

We live in a world where convicted murderers have more rights than the average law abiding citizen. I would gladly give up some rights for a little justice.

[bigmanfrommaine]

Go for it, slick.

[signseeker1717]

It seems that way sometimes, but one right the REST of us all enjoy, the right that exceeds all others, one they do NOT have (and in most cases will never have again) is FREEDOM.