[Editor’s note: The text for this document was released in 2014 by the now-defunct Wikileaks website at https://wikileaks.org/plusd/cables/1978GEORGE03884_d.html. This URL may be available through the Wayback Machine.]
LIMITED OFFICIAL USE
PAGE 01 GEORGE 03884 241152Z
ACTION SCS-06
INFO OCT-01 ARA-11 ISO-00 L-03 H-01 CA-01 SSO-00 /023 W
——————052256 252006Z /53
R 230331Z NOV 78
FM AMEMBASSY GEORGETOWN
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 8166
LIMITED OFFICIAL USE GEORGETOWN 3884
E.O. 11652: N/A
TAGS: CASC PEOPLE’S TEMPLE
SUBJECT: PEOPLE’S TEMPLE
REF: GEORGETOWN 3853
1. WE HAVE BEEN INFORMED THAT LARRY LAYTON HAS BEEN CHARGED WITH MURDER AND REMANDED TO THE CUSTODY OF CAMP STREET PRISON. TRIAL DATE IS JANUARY 15, 1979.
2. FORMATED ARREST CABLE WILL BE FORWARDED SEPARATELY.
3. WE HAVENO INFORMATION AS YET ON LEGAL FATEOF THE CARTERS AND PROKES, BUT POLICE OFFICIALS HAVE INDICATED THAT THEY ARE SEEKING ADVICE FROM THEIR LEGAL COUNSEL REGARDING WHAT CHARGE SHOULD BE BROUGHT AGAINST THEM. WE WILL ADVISE WHEN ANYTHING DEFINITE IS LEARNED.
4. POLICE ALSO UNOFFICIALLY RPT UNOFFICIALLY INFORMED CONSULAR OFFICER THAT LEGAL FATE OF PT MEMBERS AT LAMAHA GARDENS (NOW LISTED AT 46 AND SUBJECT OF SEPARATE NOK CABLE) WILL BE CLEARER FOLLOWING AUTOPSY OF SHARON AMOS AND HER THREE CHILDREN. SOME OF THOSE AT LAMAHA MAY BE HELD IN CONNECTION WITH THIS SEPARATE INVESTIGATION.
BURKE [U.S. Ambassador John Burke]
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