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Manson's Prosecutor Looks Back

...But he'd rather be prosecuting George Bush

By Kevin Spak, Newser Staff

Posted Aug 8, 2009 12:38 PM CDT

(Newser) – Vincent Bugliosi is sick of talking about Charles Manson. He’d rather discuss his new book, The Prosecution of George W. Bush for Murder. But as the man who prosecuted Manson and co-wrote Helter Skelter, that’s what people ask him about to this day. “They’re so interested,” he says near the 40th anniversary of the murders. “The durability of this case is just incredible.”

Why is that? “The murders were probably the most bizarre in American crime,” he theorizes. “The very name ‘Manson’ has become a metaphor for evil.” He’s disappointed Manson wasn’t executed—“That would have been the correct sentence”—but defends his support of cancer-sufferer Susan Atkins’ parole request. “The mercy she was asking for is so minuscule. She’s about to die. It’s not like we’re going to see her at Disneyland.”

[Images (3)]

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Vincent Bugliosi speaks at a news conference in Burlington, Vt., Thursday, Sept. 18, 2008. (AP Photo/Toby Talbot)

Vincent Bugliosi, left, speaks at a news conference in Burlington, Vt., Thursday, Sept. 18, 2008. (AP Photo/Toby Talbot)

The cover of the best-selling "Helter Skelter."

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I don't like to see anyone get away with murder. O.J. Simpson got away with two, and I wrote the book Outrage. If I can get that angry over one or two murders, you can imagine the way I feel about Bush.
- Vincent Bugliosi

He's got this image, almost a glamorous outlaw type ... but (kids) really don't know who he is. They don't know how evil he is. I think if they really knew who Manson was, they would not be wearing those shirts. - Vincent Bugliosi, Manson prosecutor

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Manson's Prosecutor Looks Back