'Devil's Advocate' seeks new trial for Charles Manson

The lawyer known as the "devil's advocate" for representing such notorious clients as Saddam Hussein and "Chemical Ali" is seeking a new trial for convicted murderer Charles Manson.

Giovanni Di Stefano said Manson's constitutional rights were violated 40 years ago when a judge assigned a public defender to the case after Manson tried to act as his own lawyer, CNN reported.

Manson was convicted in the so-called "Helter Skelter" murders of actress Sharon Tate and six other people in 1969.

Di Stefano told CNN he took on the case because "this is a question of law. I have no interest in the facts of this case. The law is the law."

The prosecutor in the case, Vincent Bugliosi, told CNN the issue of representation had already been addressed by an appeals court and that Di Stefano is "wasting his time," adding: "He's coming up against a brick wall here because there is no merit."

Di Stefano also said Manson's trial failed to establish any proof that he instructed members of his "family" to commit murder.

Manson is serving a life sentence at Corcoran State Prison in California.