they literally slaughtered the victims in order of murder. the after nine days of deliberations. the jury found all four defendants guilty of first degree murder. in my verdict i wanted to protect society. after all, this is the united states of america and we have a heritage and this is something that we must protect. they were all sentenced to death. be prepared to die, as you talk to you about death already? he is already dead. he has no thoughts, he has no opinions. he is just an empty hole. he is infitnite. tex watson who did most of the actual killing was convicted and sentenced to die in a scented second to trial. in 1972 the california supreme court ruled the death penalty unconstitutional. the sentences were reduced to life in prison. there would be no gassed chamber for any of the manson family. which meant that all of them, even charles manson himself, would have a chance at freedom after serving their sentences.