Judge blocks release of Manson follower's tapes

DALLAS (AP) — A Texas judge has blocked the Los Angeles Police Department from obtaining decades-old tapes of conversations between a Charles Manson follower and his trial attorney while the matter is under appeal.

U.S. District Judge Richard A. Schell on Wednesday granted a motion by Charles “Tex” Watson to stay a bankruptcy court ruling making the eight cassette tapes available to the LAPD. The Plano judge said he wants to hear arguments from Watson and the bankruptcy trustee before ruling on the Manson disciple’s appeal of the bankruptcy court decision.