Lawyer-author Bugliosi: from brutal fact to brutal fiction (Christian Science Monitor)

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COPYRIGHT 1981 THE CHRISTIAN SCIENCE PUBLISHING SOCIETY

Christian Science Monitor (Boston, MA)

October 15, 1981, Thursday, Midwestern Edition

SECTION: Pg. B26

LENGTH: 1327 words

HEADLINE: Lawyer-author Bugliosi: from brutal fact to brutal fiction

BYLINE: By Hillary DeVries, Staff writer of The Christian Science Monitor

DATELINE: Boston

BODY:

Vincent Bugliosi. The name alone sounds pugnacious. Like a boxing promoter. Or someother occupation equally as feisty.

But that's probably not a bad thing for the man who, 10 years ago, successfully

prosecuted the infamous murderer and self-styled cult figure, Charles Manson.

Newspapers called Manson the "most dangerous man alive." His crimes -- ordering the

murders of nine people -- frightened and confused the world back in 1969; they provide a

disturbing memory even today.

But sitting here, comfortable in tweed jacket and modest brown tie, the man who spent

nearly two years exploring the details of those murders for his prosecution, and severalmore months writing (with Curt Gentry) the best-selling book "Helter Skelter: The TrueStory of the Manson Murders" seems unfazed.

In his soft Midwest twang, which only occasionally rises to courtroom levels, VincentBugliosi seems more comfortable talking about the pros and cons of gun control and the

characters in his latest book than discussing the details of that 10-year-old trial. He is the

opposite of sensational.

Which was perhaps disappointing to the host of a local TV talk show who kept pressing

the former prosecutor on the age-old details. "Now isn't this a picture of Squeaky

Fromme?" she coaxed (Fromme, a Manson follower, later gained national notoriety whenshe tried to assassinate President Ford). "Oh yes, here's Linda Kasabian. Wasn't she your

star witness?"

Questions from the audience were no less relenting. "Do you think Manson will ever be

paroled?" "Didn't you have police protection during the trial?" "Bugliosi dutifully, if yes

than enthusiastically, replies to each eager inquiry.





represent everyone that comes to your door I have to believe in a client before I'll take the

case."

On the other hand, to turn down every guilty client would force most defense attorneys to

"take paper routes." What seems to be requisite for the Bugliosi conscience is

"extenuating or mitigating circumstances." Something that was notoriously absent in theManson trial.

"I do not want to represent some of these aimless murderers. I don't criticize lawyers whodo. But I don't want to get up in front of a jury and try to get a murderer off when I know

he's guilty."

Should the acquitted party injure someone again when set free, Bugliosi says he would"rather dig a ditch than take a case like that. I would have deceived the public."

Despite his protestations of not being a "law-and-order type," some observers contend

that Bugliosi is deeply committed to the prosecutorial side of the law. Bugliosi himself admits to having grave doubts about "heinous criminals" ever being tryly reformed. Their

release back into society, he sees as "still creating a risk."

Questions of reformation and recidivism are big topics with Bugliosi, and he raises them

with a somewhat heavy hand in his latest book, "Shadow of Cain," Bugliosi bills the book as sort of a sequel to "Helter Skelter." The two book jacket covers even look alike

with their similar scrawled red type angling across the front.

"Shadow of Cain" picks up where "Helter Skelter" lets off by tracking the life of afictional mass murderer. Ray Lomak, after his release from prison. Because of Bugliosi's

lack of faith in the ability of criminals to reform, the reader is left with no doubt that the

protagonist will commit murder again. and he does with predictable results.

But Bugliosi is not so hard-hearted as to create his main character without any redeeming

qualities. Ray Lomak has been "born again" during his years of incarceration, and uponhis release from prison he essays to be a model citizen by actively seeking employment.

His job search as an ex-con is, not surprisingly, unsuccessful. Only a fluke acquaintance

rescues him from joblessness, but even that is not enough to prevent him from eventually

returning to a life of crime.

The situation neatly ties up two big Bugliosi themes: certain criminals will always pose a

threat to society and should never be paroled; but for those criminals deserving parole, jobs should be made available. With the average criminal recidivism rate hovering at an

alarming 50 percent in the US, Bugliosi believes that jobs for ex-cons "could make a dent

in the rising crime rate," by providing them with self-respect, legally obtained income,and "some noncriminal associations and friendships."

Some critics contend that Bugliosi's hard-line stance on life imprisonment without

possibility of parole of hardened criminals panders to a public that is angry over rising



crime rates and eager for some solution. But the former prosecutor counters, "I don't

believe in glamorizing these people [mass murderers]. . . . I just don't see how you can

ever let them out." A decade after the Manson trial, Vincent Bugliosi seems as sure of that as ever.

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Lawyer-author Bugliosi: from brutal fact to brutal fiction (Christian Science Monitor)