Here's a look back at news footage from the Manson murder trial — including an interview with Susan Atkins's attorney. Atkins was the Manson family member who confessed to murdering Sharon Tate in 1969.
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00:00Is she a member of the commune that we've heard described by the chief of police of Los Angeles?
00:05Yes, she is.
00:06How long had she been with them?
00:08For about three years.
00:09Were they under any kind of narcotics?
00:13Well, there's been some evidence that some of them were involved in drugs.
00:17However, in her case, I can state that she was just totally dedicated to one man
00:22and did whatever he felt was right and whatever he said was wrong is exactly what she would do or follow.
00:28The roving band of hippies who lived for a time at a movie ranch about 25 miles west of downtown Los Angeles.
00:35They later moved from that ranch to Death Valley.
00:38The group was broken up last October after sheriff's deputies investigated a series of thefts.
00:44When the deputies raided the camp, some of the women were nude and some wore only bikini bottoms.
00:49The men had shoulder-length hair and wore beads.
00:52Eight children were with the group and two infants were found to be suffering from malnutrition.
00:57Reporter Ken Grau visited their former home, Spahn Ranch, and talked with foreman Mike Armstrong and his wife Denise.
01:04Had you heard that these three might be involved with the Tate and LaBianca murders?
01:08Yes, sir.
01:10What were your reactions?
01:12I wasn't surprised.
01:14Any unusual things that they did while they were here?
01:17They were constantly taking dope and drinking wine and stealing cars and anything else you can think of.
01:24Do you personally feel that Charlie Watson could have had something to do with the Tate and LaBianca murders?
01:32Yes, I do.
01:36But I don't believe he did it himself. I believe he had somebody else do it.
01:40I'll tell you why.
01:42Because Charlie, on this one killing, he used another man's gun.
01:47And he forced this man, by using his gun, into a position where the man couldn't get out of it.
01:54I mean, just like Charlie would have you go to bed with one of his teenage girls.
01:58Get you loaded and have you go to bed with them, then you're obligated to him.
02:02And you gotta do as he says.
02:04Unless you're dead.