The Closing Argument...

Here is "Helter Skelter." It looks like it is misspelled, H-e-a-l-t-e-r S-k-e-l-t-e-r, printed in blood on the refrigerator door at the LaBianca residence.

When the pillow was removed he observed a blood-soaked pillowcase covering Leno's head. Around the pillowcase was an electrical cord which was attached to a lamp around four or five feet from Leno's body. He observed the fork, of course.

And he also observed Leno's wrists to be tied with leather thongs, and he observed the word "War" to be carved on Leno LaBianca's stomach, "War."

He said he observed no evidence of a struggle in the living room, and he testified that Rosemary also had a pillowcase over her head, an electrical cord from a nearby lamp was also tied around her neck, very much like that of her husband.
He testified he found several items of value, such as several diamond rings, one of which was marked "14 karat," wristwatches, expensive camera equipment, many rifles and guns, a jar of coins, a coin collection, and other matters of value, personal property, all of which he said were inside the residence and easily accessible to anyone if their intent had been to steal.

Dr. Katsuyama. He is the deputy medical examiner for the Coroner's Office. He performed the autopsies on Leno and
Rosemary on August eleventh in the Coroner's Office. With respect to Leno, the cause of death was multiple stab wounds to the neck and abdomen, causing massive hemorrhage.

The doctor said that when he removed the pillowcase he observed the knife, lodged in Leno's throat, and he gave it to a
representative of the Los Angeles Police Department. He said Leno had twelve stab wounds in his body, all of which were penetration wounds, and six of which were fatal in and of themselves.

In addition to the twelve stab wounds, there were seven pairs of double-tined fork wounds, in other words, fourteen puncturewounds, for a total of twenty-six wounds in Leno LaBianca's stomach and body. The doctor also observed the word "War" scratched on Leno's abdomen. There were no defense wounds on Leno. And, of course, there wouldn't
be. Leno's hands had been tied up around his wrists and obviously he Was helpless, helpless to defend himself.

more on the closing argument