Would Charlie Manson Be Convicted in 2009?

[iCe]

Charles Manson and his trial is on tv right now and it got me to thinking. He never raised a weapon yet he was convicted of murder. Would that happen today?

My guess is no...

They were sentenced to death btw... and then California abolished the death penalty... so their sentence was commuted to life. He's still a wack job...

[C!LLY]

I think he would be charged for conspiracy to commit, unless he was in Tx or Fl, then he would be charged for murder and executed within 8 years.

[HeatherLou]

I think he would still be convicted, but not get life, prolly like 20 years. Either that, or they would have found him incompetent to stand trial and locked him up in the looney bin.

[L Stegall]

I think he would still be convicted. The evidence was pretty overwhelming. My 7th grade teacher had dated one his followers, Tex Watson (I think that was the name) when they were in college. She was pretty freaked out during the trial.

[iCe]

Either that, or they would have found him incompetent to stand trial and locked him up in the looney bin.

That would be my guess too...

Originally Posted by L Stegall

I think he would still be convicted. The evidence was pretty overwhelming. My 7th grade teacher had dated one his followers, Tex Watson (I think that was the name) when they were in college. She was pretty freaked out during the trial.

Why was she freaked out

Umm yeah... just kidding and all that.

The evidence is that he never raised a weapon. Never killed anyone.

[Truckman]

In California?...He'd be elected to their state assembly...Ben

[L Stegall]

Originally Posted by iCe

That would be my guess too...



Why was she freaked out

Umm yeah... just kidding and all that.

The evidence is that he never raised a weapon. Never killed anyone.

I've forgotten all the specifics of what the evidence was, although clearly, his "followers" were doing his bidding at the time. I did read Vincent Bugliosi's book on the trial, Helter Skelter. If I recall correctly, it was a pretty interesting read.

[timbertoes]

We Live In A Post O.J. World !!

[iCe]

Originally Posted by timbertoes

We Live In A Post O.J. World !!

Boink... err... BINGO! Orange Juice is an evil drink...

[KJ Smith]

In California it would depend on the people chosen for the jury and how much money he had to spend on lawyers.

Yep, just like OJ.

Kevin

[Cajungaltx]

I don't think he would be convicted.

They would probably trot out psychiatrists and such that blamed his entire mental state on his poor child hood *sob*sob*

He might get sent to a mental institution, but I don't think he'd be convicted.

IN CALIFORNIA.

I think he would have been convicted and sentenced to die in a few other states.

[CaptainTom]

A little known fact: Charles Manson started out as a wedding photographer. - Robert Ripley

[mjdmike]

No way he'd be convicted today. He'd be great press, and would end up a cult hero of sorts.

Well, actually he already is in some circles.

[Davidtxs]

Originally Posted by CaptainTom

A little known fact: Charles Manson started out as a wedding photographer. - Robert Ripley

I bet he was a canon shooter those guys are EVIL

[Jenny Z]

Originally Posted by Truckman

In California?...He'd be elected to their state assembly...Ben