In this episode of Crime Time Inc., host Alex delves into the Charles Manson trial, focusing on the 1969 threats and confessions within the Manson Family, particularly Susan Atkins. Key revelations include planned high-profile murders, such as Elizabeth Taylor and Frank Sinatra, and the shocking manipulation of evidence and witness testimonies in the courtroom. The defense's unexpected decision to rest without cross-examining witnesses shifts the trial's dynamics. The episode also features discussions by crime experts Simon and Tom Wood, who analyze the psychological and procedural aspects of the case.

00:00 Introduction to Episode 24: The Manson Family Murders

00:36 Virginia Graham's Shocking Revelation

01:30 The Celebrity Death List

04:50 Prosecutor's Dilemma and Legal Battles

06:25 Witness Testimonies and Defense Strategies

17:09 Manson's Manipulative Conversations

24:23 The Defense Rests: A Legal Gamble

28:54 Expert Analysis and Reflections

29:09 The Defense Rests: A Legal Gamble

29:55 The Shockwave in the Courtroom

30:47 Analyzing the Defense's Strategy

31:37 The Turning Point in the Manson Trial

31:59 The Jury's Role and Final Deliberations

32:54 Reflecting on the Manson Family's Targets

33:49 The Manson Family's Delusional Plans

35:29 Manson's God Complex and Courtroom Behavior

40:29 The Circus of the Manson Trial

43:12 The Importance of the Manson Trial

43:49 Will Manson Testify?

45:01 Wrapping Up the Series

Tom Wood is a former murder squad detective and Deputy Chief Constable of Lothian and Borders Police in Scotland. Tom worked on many high profile murder cases including Robert Black, Peter Tobin and was part of the team investigating The World’s End Murders from day one until 37 years later when the culprit, Angus Sinclair was finally convicted. Tom was latterly the detective in overall charge of The World’s End murder investigation. 

Tom is now retired from the Police and is a successful author.

Tom Wood's Books

 Ruxton: The First Modern Murder https://amzn.eu/d/25k8KqG

The World's End Murders: The Inside Story https://amzn.eu/d/5U9nLoP

Simon is a retired Police Officer and the best selling author of The Ten Percent, https://amzn.eu/d/5trz6bs a memoir consisting of

stories from the first part of his career as a police officer. From joining in 1978,

being posted in Campbeltown in Argylll, becoming a detective on the Isle of

Bute, Scotland, through to the Serious Crime Squad and working in the busy Glasgow

station in Govan.

#CharlesManson,

#MansonMurders,

#truecrimepodcast,

#helterskelter,

#CrimeHistory,

Further reading on Charles Manson which helped influence this podcast:

Manson: The Life and Times of Charles Manson by Jeff Guinn

Helter Skelter: The True Story of the Manson Murders by Vincent Bugliosi and Curt Gentry

Charles Manson, the CIA and the Secret History of the Sixties by Tom O'Neill

About Crime Time Inc.

Crime Time Inc. is hosted by Tom and Simon—two ex-cops with decades of frontline experience and zero tolerance for fluff. Tom, a by-the-book former Deputy Chief Constable from Edinburgh, and Simon, a rule-bending ex-undercover cop from Glasgow, bring sharp insight, dark humour, and plenty of East vs. West banter to every episode.

Whether they’re revisiting cases they worked on, grilling fellow former officers, or picking apart narrated true crime stories, Tom and Simon don’t just talk about crime—they’ve lived it. Real cases. Real cops. Real talk.

Our Website: https://crimetimeinc.com/

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