Charles Manson Dies at 83

Notorious American murderer Charles Manson has died at the age of 83. He allegedly died of natural causes, in a Californian hospital, on Sunday just after 20h00.

Manson’s prosecutor Vincent Bugliosi described Manson as “an evil, sophisticated con man with twisted and warped moral values.”

He was alleged to be the mastermind behind the horrific murders in 1969 of seven people in two incidents, committed by his followers, with the most famous victim being the brutal slaughter of Sharon Tate, pregnant wife of director Roman Polanski.

Manson apparently orchestrated the murders to create a race war – called Helter Skelter – and planned to use it to seize power.

Manson had been in prison for over 45 years. He was originally sentenced to death, but the California Supreme Court temporarily overturned the death penalty in 1972 and his sentence was reduced to life imprisonment. He was an inmate at Corcoran State Prison.

Last Wednesday law officials confirmed he had been admitted to hospital in Bakersfield, but declined to reveal his condition. According to rumours he had a “serious illness”.