Manson family LaBianca murders: Crime scene photos [GRAPHIC]

by Leigh Egan August 8, 2019

*WARNING*: GRAPHIC IMAGES

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Within a day after the famous Cielo Drive murders, notorious cult leader Charles Manson led his minions 11 miles east to the LaBianca home, where a beloved couple lost their lives to pack of crazed cult followers. The LaBianca deaths are sometimes referred to as “the forgotten murders,” but the crime was as callous and gruesome as the Cielo Drive killings.

On Sunday, August 10, 1969, grocery store chain owners Leno and Rosemary LaBianca were settled in for the night after a Saturday lake trip to drop off a boat. They arrived home at around 1 a.m. Their Spanish-style house sat snugly atop a long driveway off of Waverly Drive, in the Los Feliz area of Los Angeles, where Leno grew up.

The couple’s 16-year-old son Frank was supposed to be with them that night, but at the last minute, pleaded with his parents to allow him to stay an extra day at Lake Isabella with his friends.

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The home of Mr. and Mrs. Leno A. LaBianca, who were found slain on August 10 in the Los Feliz district of Los Angeles, is seen on Aug 11, 1969. Some aspects of the slayings were similar to those in the murders of actress Sharon Tate and four others in the city’s Bel-Air district 10 miles to the west. (AP Photo)

As 44-year-old Leno dozed off in his recliner while reading a newspaper in the living room, he was greeted at gunpoint by uninvited intruders, Manson, and his follower, Charles “Tex” Watson, who walked into the home through an unlocked back door. Rosemary, 38, had already turned in for the night and was in her bedroom while Manson and Watson loomed over Leno.

Manson brought Rosemary out from the bedroom and demanded the couple give them all of their cash, according to court documents. Watson, under Manson’s command, then led Rosemary back to her bedroom, where he tied her up and put a pillowcase over her face.

Watson returned to the living room and covered Leno’s face and head with a pillowcase, gagged his mouth using a lamp cord, and tied his hands with a leather cord.

Meanwhile, four fellow cult groupies waited outside in a “getaway car.” Once the LaBiancas had been subdued, Manson walked outside and ordered Patricia Krenwinkel and Leslie Van Houten to enter the house and kill the couple. Manson ordered Linda Kasabian to stay in the car and be the getaway driver.

A fourth Manson follower, Steve Grogan, stayed in the car while Manson got in and told Kasabian to drive away.

When Krenwinkel and Van Houten walked inside, Watson ordered the girls to go to the bedroom and kill Rosemary. As the girls made their way to the bedroom, Watson began stabbing Leno in the stomach with a bayonet, even though he promised the man he wouldn’t be harmed.

*Leno LaBianca [Photo: Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner/LAPD]*

The girls began stabbing Rosemary, but the woman tried to defend herself. She ran around the bedroom trying to get away, but the pillowcase over her head made it difficult. The girls screamed for help.

Watson, who paused briefly from stabbing Leno, went to the room to help the girls. Watson plunged a knife into Rosemary to subdue her. He then returned to Leno and picked up where he left off.

Rosemary was subsequently stabbed 41 times by the killers, according to a 1970 report by The New York Times. Dr. David M. Katsuyama, the deputy medical examiner who later testified against the defendants, said Rosemary died from “multiple stab wounds of the neck and trunk causing massive hemorrhage.”

*Rosemary LaBianca [Photos: Los Angeles PD]*

After savagely slaughtering the couple, the killers, using Leno’s blood, wrote disturbing words inside the home. During a 2016 parole hearing, Krenwinkel admitted that she was the one who carved “WAR” into Leno’s abdomen and wrote “Rise,” “Healter Skelter” and “Death to Pigs” on the walls and refrigerator, according to AP.

Krenwickel then stabbed Leno multiple times before leaving a carving fork protruding out of his belly.

In 1970, the majority of the suspects faced trial for murder. Watson, who fled to Texas after the killings, faced a separate trial. By 1971, however, all suspects were convicted.

Leno and Rosemary LaBianca had no connection to Manson or his followers. They lost their lives on a chance decision made by Manson, who randomly chose their house in an area he was familiar with.

Charles Tex Watson, center, is led back to jail from a courtroom after he was convicted of seven counts of first degree murder and one of conspiracy to commit murder in the Tate-LaBianca slayings, Oct. 12, 1971, Los Angeles, Calif. Watson, a former member of the Charles Manson Family, was the last of five defendants to be convicted in the slayings. (AP Photo/George Brich)

Manson, Krenwinkel, Watson and Van Houten were sentenced to life in prison. As of 2019, none of the killers have been released, despite numerous parole hearings. Manson passed away in 2017 while still serving time at the California State Prison in Corcoran.

Holding hands and singing, three girl defendants in Sharon Tate murder case walk down a Los Angeles Hall of Justice corridor, March 19, 1970 for a pre-trial hearing. The girls, from left, are Susan Atkins, Patricia Krenwinkel, and Leslie Van Houten. Deputy accompanying them is Aileen Stagle. (AP Photo/Harold Filan)

Kasabian testified for the prosecution and became a key witness in the trial. For her cooperation and since she didn’t directly participate in killing the couple, she was granted immunity.

Linda Kasabian, left, the states principal witness in the murder trial of Charles Manson and three girl companions, is driven from the Los Angeles Hall of Justice in custody of the sheriffs matron after beginning her story of how actress Sharon Tate and six others were slain, Monday, July 28, 1970, Los Angeles, Calif. She resumes her testimony. (AP Photo)

Grogan was sentenced to life behind bars for a different killing ordered by Manson: the slaying of Hollywood stuntman, Donald Shea. In 1985, Grogan walked out of prison on parole, making him the only Manson family member convicted of murder to make parole.

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[Feature Photo: Leno and Rosemary LaBianca/Handout; LAPD]

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Badenoch blasts 'moaning' female Labour MPs over Burnham jobs 'quota'

Kemi Badenoch has told Labour women to earn a job in Andy Burnham's Cabinet instead of demanding they are handed jobs because of their gender.

The Tory leader lashed out today amid reports that female MPs are demanding the de-facto new prime minister introduce a 50:50 gender split 'quota' in his government.

Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister also complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts.

But in a scathing article in the Times today Mrs Badenoch told them to 'stop moaning' and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'.

'There are many, many reasons why you shouldn't have any Milibands in the cabinet,' she said.

'But complaining that the boys haven't given them the right jobs or that the boys are taking all the jobs, just shows that Labour's women still don't get it.'

The idea of quotas was also attacked by Baroness Jacqui Smith, Labour's Skills Minister.

Asked by Times Radio if Mr Burnham should reserve jobs for women, she said: 'No, I think what Andy Burnham should be doing is building the very best team around him to change this country.'

A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs

Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband (above, right, in 2010) is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts

But Mrs Badenoch told them to pipe down and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'

A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party and seen by the BBC has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs after he succeeds Sir Keir Starmer.

'We are asking you to demonstrate this change from day one and address the toxicity and misogyny within our own party and government,' it said.

Labour has never had a female leader, while the Conservatives have had three, and Mrs Badenoch urged the government to follow its meritocratic example.

'If you run a meritocracy, then you do not have to worry about jobs for the boys,' she wrote.

'Every woman who is a Conservative MP, every woman who has ever won the leadership, has had to fight to get where she is.

'By contrast, Labour women are demanding guarantees from Burnham. But the truth is he doesn't have to give any guarantees.

'If none of Labour's women are prepared to get their hands dirty and challenge him for the leadership, their demands are toothless.'

'In fact, it's quite revealing that the women's parliamentary Labour Party has written to Burnham asking him to commit himself to at least 50 per cent female ministers.

'This has nothing to do with meritocracy. It is yet more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country.'

Inside the Manson family LaBianca murders

Manson family LaBianca murders: Crime scene photos [GRAPHIC]

Badenoch blasts 'moaning' female Labour MPs over Burnham jobs 'quota'

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