Layton, Jones Had Sexual Relationship, Lawyer Says

Peoples Temple gunman Larry Layton would not testify on his own behalf and opposed an insanity plea because he did not want to reveal a homosexual relationship he had with cult leader Jim Jones, an attorney said.

The relationship was disclosed Thursday at a hearing to determine if Layton should get a third trial in the 1978 ambush slayings of a congressman and four others at a jungle airstrip near Jonestown, Guyana. He was convicted at his second trial of conspiracy to commit murder.

Robert Bryan, Layton’s new attorney, argued before a federal judge that a new trial should be granted because previous defense attorneys mishandled the case by not having Layton testify and not entering an insanity plea.

But Tony Tamburello, former head of Layton’s defense team, told the U.S. District Court hearing that the defendant’s sexual relationship with Jones had prevented him from taking either course suggested by Bryan.

Layton, 41, was a disciple of Jones, whose 912 followers joined him in an orgy of mass murder and suicide shortly after the airstrip slayings of Rep. Leo Ryan (D-Calif.) and four others and the wounding of U.S. diplomat Richard Dwyer in Guyana in 1978.

The sexual relationship between Layton and Jones during the 1970s was the major reason Layton did not wish to testify or have his defense team offer an insanity defense, Tamburello said.

“He was very afraid of revealing he had sex with Jones,” Tamburello testified. “He did not want it revealed. I am sorry it is being revealed today.”

Layton told prosecutors earlier this week that he was forced to submit to sex with Jones, U.S. Atty. Joseph Russoniello said.

A report taken from newly revealed defense notes says Layton “gave up two wives, suffered beatings, sodomy and humiliation” for the charismatic cult leader.