ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Friday, March 28, 1997 TAG: 9703280077
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A-2 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: CORCORAN, CALIF.
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS
As a board member recounted the 1969 killings, Manson appeared to get tearful and wiped his eyes.
A gray-haired Charles Manson was denied parole Thursday for the ninth time after telling prison officials he's just too busy to be free.
``I'm involved in too many things,'' he said. ``I have a Web site I'm working on.''
Manson, now 62, rambled on for about an hour to the three-member panel of the state Board of Corrections. He insisted he did not kill actress Sharon Tate and six others in 1969.
``I've killed a lot of people in my life,'' he said. ``I have. But I was convicted for things I didn't do, and I was let loose for things I did.''
He is serving a life sentence at a high-security state prison about 170 miles north of Los Angeles.
Manson's gray hair was wavy and neatly combed, his face craggy with age. His forehead bore the deep swastika he carved there during his 1970 trial.
As a board member recounted the grisly 1969 killings, Manson appeared to get tearful and wiped his eyes. But he quickly returned to his accustomed bravado.
The hearing, Manson's first in five years, showed that he was well aware of his notoriety when the board summarized a psychiatric report showing that Manson has a schizoid personality and engages in ``magical thinking.''
Manson asked quizzically, ``This will go in history books, right?''
The board chairman, Steve Baker, finally asked Manson if he would accept parole if it were granted. He said no.
The board took 20 minutes before returning and informing Manson he would serve at least another five years. Manson replied, ``I accept this decision. That's cool.''
LENGTH: Short : 44 linesby CNB