For decades, the prevailing story of the Manson murders held that Charles Manson masterminded a murderous plot to ignite a race war inspired by the Beatles.But Joe Berlinger argues the infamous story never added up.The true crime filmmaker directed a three-part Netflix docuseries titled "Conversations with a Killer: The Charles Manson Tapes." It features previously unreleased prison audio from the cult leader and some of his "Manson Family" members.In 1969, the career criminal who surrounded himself with runaways and other lost souls directed his followers to commit a series of murders in and around Los Angeles.
Prosecutors argued the killings were part of Manson's "Helter Skelter" plan to ignite a race war.CHARLES MANSON'S GRANDDAUGHTER REVEALS MOMENT SHE DISCOVERED DARK FAMILY SECRET: 'IT WAS DEVASTATING'Charles Manson is brought into the Los Angeles city jail under suspicion of having masterminded the Tate-LaBianca murders of August 1969.(Getty Images)But after studying the previously unreleased recordings, Berlinger argues the murders were instead a desperate attempt to cover up "a series of blunders.""This whole idea of starting a race war was a false idea," Berlinger told Fox News Digital.
"He certainly believed a race war was coming, or at least that's what he told his followers to control them.But the murders, in particular the Tate and LaBianca murders, were an attempt to get associate Bobby Beausoleil out of prison.
He told his followers, 'He's my friend.You guys owe me a favor.
Let's get him out of prison.'"Robert Kenneth Beausoleil, aka Bobby Beausoleil, talks with newsmen after the jury returned a verdict against him of first-degree murder in the torture slaying of musician Gary Hinman.Beausoleil, a former member of the Manson Family, claimed Charles Manson sent him to Hinman's house to force the musician to turn over $20,000, but that Manson delivered the death blows.
(Bettmann Archive)"The truth is I believe, and others believe, that if they had ...