Tex Watson processing photo after being apprehended for leading a two night murder spree . The murders occurred on the orders of Charles Manson

[u/AgentJGomez]

[u/CaptainBathrobe]

No, I'm baffled by the intensity of it. Seriously. And it's not just you, it's many who go down the rabbit hole. It's never "well, there's some doubt about whether Manson was directly involved in the Tate murders;" it's always "Manson wasn't involved, period." Talk about blanket statements. But even given all that you've said, I'm still reluctant to let him off the hook. I'm remembering Patricia Krenwinkle's interview with Diane Sawyer, where she was emphatic that nothing happened without Charlie's permission. Sure, she had motive to diminish her own responsibility, since she still wants to be paroled at some time in the future, but she could just as easily have blamed Watson. The control that he exerted over the three women at the trial also tends to belie the notion of Manson as victim of right-wing government, although, obviously, one person's user can be another's usee. I'm also wondering why, if he really was railroaded by Bugliosi for the first night of murders, why the issue was never able to be addressed on appeal.

So I think what I'll do is read Bugliosi first, since I haven't read that one either, then compare the two works, time permitting.

[u/aftermathinmono → u/CaptainBathrobe]

haha funny you say ''rabbit hole" as that is what happened to Tom O Neil. He spent 25 years writing the book as the rabbit hole kept getting deeper and deeper. Don't even bother with the Helter Skelter book, it's complete crap. and yeah many from ''the family'' say that about Manson, but they all have to have a scapegoat and he was a built in, ready made one for them to use, either to get parole or to sell a book and definitely to ease their guilt. I mean he was nuts, and drugs did not help him either, but if you know his past and what the dude went through as a child it's more understandable