Sharon Tate

Sharon Marie Tate (January 24, 1943 – August 9, 1969) was an American actress. During the 1960s she played small roles in television, before starting her film career. She appeared in several films that utilised her physical beauty, and after receiving positive reviews as a light comedienne was hailed as one of Hollywood's promising newcomers. Tate's celebrity status and role as a style icon of the "Swinging Sixties" increased after fashion magazines began featuring her as a model and cover girl. Married to the film director Roman Polanski, Tate was eight months pregnant when she, along with four others, was murdered in her Benedict Canyon home by followers of Charles Manson.

Arrest and trial of the Manson Family

In November 1969, while in prison in connection with a car theft, Susan Atkins boasted to an inmate that she was responsible for the murder of Sharon Tate. This led to her arrest, along with the accomplices she named, Charles Manson, Charles 'Tex' Watson, Patricia Krenwinkel and Linda Kasabian. Atkins also revealed that the murders of Leno and Rosemary LaBianca in Los Feliz, Los Angeles, on the night after the Tate murders, were also committed by "Family" members, and she incriminated Leslie Van Houten as a participant in the second murder.

Related Topics:
Susan Atkins - Charles Manson - Charles 'Tex' Watson - Patricia Krenwinkel - Linda Kasabian - Leno - Rosemary LaBianca - Los Feliz - Leslie Van Houten

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Offered immunity from prosecution for testifying before a Grand Jury, Atkins presented her version of events, and candidly stated that she had stabbed Tate because she was "sick of listening to her, pleading and begging, begging and pleading". When she refused to cooperate further, the offer of immunity was withdrawn and made to Kasabian instead. As Kasabian had not taken part in any of the murders, and by several accounts had challenged Manson over the killings, the offer of immunity to her was seen as more acceptable, particularly by the prosecutor Vincent Bugliosi, who commented that he was relieved the offer was withdrawn from Atkins. {{mn|VincentBugliosi|2}}

Related Topics:
Grand Jury - Vincent Bugliosi

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On June 15, 1970, Manson, Atkins, Krenwinkel and Van Houten were sent to trial while Watson remained in Texas fighting attempts to extradite him. The details of the trial were reported throughout the world. Kasabian proved to be a reliable and consistent witness. She told of a hippie group and its leader Charles Manson, a thwarted musician who believed a race war was imminent. He believed the music of The Beatles warned of the coming holocaust, which he referred to as Helter Skelter, after The Beatles' song, and also believed that only the "chosen", his "family", would survive. Briefly associated with Terry Melcher, Manson had believed Melcher would foster his musical aspirations but when this failed to happen he was infuriated and felt betrayed. Manson felt that he would bring about the race war by having his followers slaughter wealthy people in their homes and cast suspicion on black militant groups such as the Black Panthers. He had been to the Cielo Drive address, and although he knew Melcher had moved, the house represented his rejection by the showbusiness establishment. He instructed Watson, Atkins, Krenwinkel and Kasabian to go to the house "and kill everyone there". {{mn|VincentBugliosi|2}}

Related Topics:
June 15 - 1970 - Texas - Hippie - Charles Manson - The Beatles - Helter Skelter - Black Panthers

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The testimony of Kasabian, combined with Atkins' Grand Jury testimony provided a detailed explanation of the events, many of which were made public for the first time. When the group entered the grounds of the property, they were seen by Steven Parent, who was leaving in his car. Watson shot Parent several times, before ordering Kasabian to remain outside and keep watch while the others entered the house. The four occupants of the house were tied together at gun point, and when Sebring urged the intruders to consider Tate's pregnancy and not harm her, Watson shot him. Frykowski and Folger each escaped, running in different directions onto the front lawn, where each of them was overtaken and killed. Tate begged for the life of her child, even suggesting that the group take her away with them and allow her to give birth before murdering her. As they rejected her suggestion, she pleaded with them to cut the baby from her body before they killed her. Atkins had testified before the Grand Jury that she replied to Tate, "Look bitch, I have no mercy for you. You're going to die and you'd better get used to it". Atkins and Watson then stabbed her to death. Atkins took a towel and mopped up some of Tate's blood, and used the towel to write the word "PIG" on the front door. {{mn|VincentBugliosi|2}}

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The defendants were found guilty and sentenced to death on March 29, 1971. Watson was tried separately after extradition from Texas. Psychiatrists testified that he appeared to be feigning insanity, and while he admitted his role in all of the killings, he refused to acknowledge his responsibility, and was widely quoted by the press when he blandly stated that he had not noticed that Sharon Tate was pregnant. He was found guilty and sentenced to death on October 21, 1971. The death sentences were later automatically commuted to life in prison after the California Supreme Court's People v. Anderson decision resulted in the invalidation of all death sentences imposed in California prior to 1972. As of 2005, Manson, Watson, Atkins, Krenwinkel and Van Houten remain incarcerated, each having failed to obtain parole more than a dozen times since becoming eligible. {{mn|GregKing|1}}

Related Topics:
March 29 - 1971 - October 21 - Death sentence - California Supreme Court - 1972 - As of 2005

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