Criminal trial testimony: Ava Avalos

Two of the Rajneesh commune’s top leaders went to trial in U.S. District Court in Portland, accused of conspiring to kill the U.S. attorney. It was the only criminal trial of any of the sect’s leaders. Here are transcripts of the testimony of key insiders, describing life at the ranch and the plot to kill Charles Turner. The accused leaders, Ma Prem Savita, also known as Sally Anne Croft, and Ma Anand Su, also known as Susan Hagan, were convicted and sentenced to federal prison.