RFK assassin Sirhan Sirhan will seek parole without opposition from prosecutors
This will be the 16th time the convicted murderer has faced a parole board, but the first time he’s done so unopposed
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.The man convicted of assassinating Robert F Kennedy in 1968 will seek parole on Friday – this time without any prosecutors opposing him, The Washington Post has reported.
Sirhan Sirhan, 77, has been in a San Diego prison for 53 years, and has sought parole 15 times before. Each of those times, he was denied.
This time may be different. The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office has said it will not send prosecutors to attend the Friday parole hearing, nor will it issue a letter supporting or opposing Sirhan’s release.
“The role of a prosecutor and their access to information ends at sentencing,” Alex Bastian, an adviser to District Attorney George Gascon, told the Post. “If someone is the same person that committed an atrocious crime, that person will correctly not be found suitable for release. However, if someone is no longer a threat to public safety after having served more than 50 years in prison, then the parole board may recommend release based on an objective determination.”
In June 1968, Senator Kennedy had just won the Democratic presidential primary in California and appeared poised to win his party’s nomination. After delivering a victory speech to a cheering crowd at the Ambassador Hotel in LA, the candidate walked through the hotel’s kitchen toward a press conference. He was then shot, and died a day later.
Sirhan Sirhan: Robert Kennedy assassin stabbed in prison
Robert F. Kennedy's assassin Sirhan Sirhan seeking parole
Martin Luther King: Robert F Kennedy's moving address on the night the great civil rights icon was assassinated
Divers find body of Robert Kennedy’s eight-year-old great-grandson Gideon McKean
Body of Robert Kennedy’s granddaughter found after canoeing accident
The murder, which came just two months after the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr, was a traumatic turning point in American history. Having lost perhaps their strongest national candidate, the Democrats fell into disarray, held a convention marred by violence, and went on to lose the presidential election to Richard Nixon.
Some of the witnesses present at the assassination – including Kennedy aide Paul Schrade, who was also shot – said there were multiple shooters. But prosecutors insisted Sirhan had acted alone, and no other suspects were pursued.
So far, the Kennedy family has not commented on Sirhan’s upcoming parole hearing.
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments