SAN DIEGO (AP) – For 15 years, Robert F. Kennedy’s killer was denied parole by a California parole board that claimed Sirhan showed no proper remorse or understood the enormity of the his crime that shook the nation and the world in 1968.
But on Friday, the two-person group said he appeared to be a different man, even since his last hearing in 2016, and granted parole to 77-year-old inmates. Two of RFK’s sons, who go against the wishes of several siblings, said they also supported the release and prosecutors declined to argue that it should be kept behind bars. But eventually the governor will decide whether to get out of jail.
The board found that Sirhan no longer posed a threat to society, and noted that he had enrolled in more than 20 programs, including anger management classes, Tai Chi meetings and Alcoholics Anonymous, even during the coronavirus pandemic.
“We believe you have grown,” said parole board commissioner Robert Barton.
Douglas Kennedy was a small child when his father was murdered in 1968. He told a panel of two people that Sirhan’s remorse moved him to cry and that Sirhan should be released if he is not a threat to others.
“I am overwhelmed just to be able to see Mr. Sirhan face to face,” he said. “I have lived my life both for fear of him and for his name in one way or another. And today I am grateful to see him as a human being worthy of compassion and love ”.
Six of Kennedy’s nine surviving children, however, said they were surprised by the vote. They urged Governor Gavin Newsom, who is facing a withdrawal election in California, to reverse the parole board’s decision and keep Sirhan behind bars.
“He took our father from our family and he brought him from America,” the six brothers wrote in a statement last Friday. “We are incredulous that this man would be recommended to release him.
The statement was signed by Joseph P. Kennedy II, Courtney Kennedy, Kerry Kennedy, Christopher G. Kennedy, Maxwell T. Kennedy and Rory Kennedy.
But another brother, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., has spoken out in favor of his freedom in the past and has written in favor of parole Sirhan. He said in the letter that he met him in prison and was moved by Sirhan, “who cried, shook my hand and apologized.
“While no one can speak definitively on behalf of my father, I firmly believe that, based on his consumer commitment to justice and fairness, I would strongly encourage this board to release Mr Sirhan because of the impressive track record. of Sirhan rehabilitation, ”he said. in a letter presented during the board meeting.
Sirhan, who has white hair, smiled, thanked the board and gave a thumbs up after the decision to grant parole was announced. It was a major victory in his 16th parole attempt after turning 53. But he does not guarantee his release.
The opinion will be reviewed over the next 120 days by board staff. It will then be sent to the governor, who will have 30 days to decide whether to grant, reverse or modify it. If Sirhan is released, he must live in a transitional home for six months, enroll in an alcohol abuse program and receive therapy.
Robert F. Kennedy was a U.S. New York senator and brother of President John F. Kennedy, who was assassinated in 1963. RFK was seeking a Democratic presidential nomination when he was assassinated at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles. after delivering a victory speech at the California elementary primaries. Five more were injured.
Sirhan, who insists he does not remember the shooting and had drunk alcohol just before, was convicted of first-degree murder. He was sentenced to death after his conviction, but that sentence was commuted to life when the California Supreme Court briefly outlawed the death penalty in 1972.
Some of Kennedy’s sons and others have called for a new investigation into the murder, believing there was a second shooter who fled.
While on Friday Sirhan reiterated that he did not remember the murder, he made multiple attempts to prove, however, that he is responsible for the damage he caused.
“Sen. Kennedy was the hope of the world … and I hurt them all and I am sorry to experience this, the knowledge of such a horrible action, if in fact he did, ”said Sirhan, appearing on camera from d ‘a San Diego County Jail in the virtual trial, in his blue prison uniform, a paper towel folded like a handkerchief coming out of his shirt pocket.
Barton said this was progress.
“We saw the improvement you made, and all the other mitigating factors, and we didn’t find your complete lack of responsibility” for the crime as evidence that it is currently dangerous to society, ”Barton said.
Due to laws passed in 2018, the board had to take into account this time the fact that he had suffered child trauma from the conflict in the Middle East, who committed the crime at an early age and is now a prisoner. of advanced age.
The board found that, despite the magnitude of the crime, it was unlikely to recur and not pose an irrational threat to public safety.
“Despite its atrocity, its impact, not only on families and victims and on the nation in general and perhaps on the world at large, if I were sentenced to life without parole, that would be a different matter, but that you be sent to life on parole, ”Barton said.
Barton said the council’s decision was not influenced by the fact that prosecutors did not participate in or oppose Sirhan’s release under a policy by Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascon, a former police who took office last year after participating in a reform platform. Gascon, who said he idolized the Kennedys and lamented the assassination of RFK, believes the role of prosecutors ends in sentencing and that they should not influence prisoners ’release decisions.
“Obviously, they opposed it in the past, and even if they had opposed it today, our decision would be the same,” Barton said.
The Los Angeles police department, relatives of some of the victims and members of the public filed letters to oppose Sirhan’s release.
The California District Attorney’s Association reported the prosecutor’s absence.
“This is one of the most notorious political assassinations in American history and the killer is being considered for release without the benefit of a representative on behalf of the people of California. This is embarrassing,” the prosecutor said. of El Dorado County District, Vern Pierson, president of the association.
Sirhan’s lawyer, Angela Berry, had urged the board to base its decision on who Sirhan is today and not on what he did more than 50 years ago.
Sirhan said he had learned to control his anger and was committed to living in peace.
“You have my promise. I will always look for security, peace and non-violence, “he told the group.
Sirhan, a Palestinian Christian from Jordan, has acknowledged that he was angry with Kennedy for his support of Israel. When asked about how he feels about the Middle East conflict today, Sirhan broke down crying and was temporarily unable to speak.
“Take a few deep breaths,” said Barton, who noted that the conflict hadn’t gone away and was still touching his nerve.
Sirhan said he does not follow what is happening in the region, but thinks about the suffering of the refugees.
“The misery that these people live. It’s painful, “said Sirhan.
Should he be released, Sirhan could be deported to Jordan and Barton said he was concerned it could become a “symbol or lightning rod to encourage more violence”.
Sirhan said he was too old to get involved in the Middle East conflict and would break away from it.
“One can say or argue the same argument that I can be a peacemaker and collaborator in a friendly and nonviolent way of solving the problem,” said Sirhan, who told the group he hoped to live with his blind brother in Pasadena. , California.
Paul Schrade, a union leader and RFK aide who was among the five people injured in the 1968 shooting, also spoke on Friday in support of Sirhan’s release.
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Melley reported from Los Angeles.