LOS ANGELES, Apr. 21 – A Superior Court jury resumed deliberations today in the penalty phase of the murder retrial of Robert Kenneth Beausoleil.

The same jury convicted Beausoleil, 22, Saturday of first-degree murder in the fatal stabbing last July 27 of musician Gary Hinman, 34.

The prosecution called no witnesses during the penalty phase. Deputy Dist. Atty. Burton Katz introduced into evidence a letter further linking Beausoleil with the “family” of Charles Manson.

In the letter, Beausoleil wrote he would be “wearing a common face in the courtroom and for that reason I sent a note to the family saying not to write or visit me.”

The letter, which was undated, was written to “Ouish,” a girl who is reportedly a member of the clan. It was sent to an address in Crystal, Minn.

The letter was signed “Jasper,” a professional name Beausoleil used in attempting to break into the recording business.

The letter continued: “The D.A. will probably try to use the fact that I’ve been in touch
with the family against me — bein’ as the worst evidence they have against me in the publicity.”

Manson and two others were indicted last week by the county grand jury for Hinman’s murder.

Manson and five of his followers also are charged with the slayings last August of actress Sharon Tate and six others.

The letter said, “Since I won’t be communicating with the family (at least not through these conventional means) for a month before the trial, it will give my lawyer something to argue in defense with. Dig? And I can keep my common face for them.”

Beausoleil’s attorney, Deputy Public Defender Leon Salter, called Beausoleil’s father, Charles, to the witness stand.

The elder Beausoleil identified four letters his son sent to him, his wife and Stephen, the defendant’s younger brother.