</s>Weekly Summary #45 Page 18 "I propose to discuss with you the law and to attempt to help you if I can with what the law is in this case and then to do my dead-level best to apply the law to this case. Not with the idea of turning Sirhan Sirhan loose ... but to put it in proper ... and intelligent perspective. "Let me explain how your instructions will come ... Both sides prepare their conception of what they think the law Is. We submit them to his honor ... his honor has the last word. He tells us what law he is going to give you so that when we argue the law you will state it truthfully. "First, I think you should know what the presumption of imo- cence is. If after considering all the evidence you entertain reasonable doubt as to whether it should be first-degree or second-degree murder, I believe his honor will tell you that it is up to you under the law too give the defendant the benefit of reasonable doubt. "If there is doubt in your mind as to whatever it should Be murder in the second degree or manslaughter, it would be your duty under the law to return a verdict of manslaughter, providing that you entertain reasonable doubt. "A reasonable doubt is not mere possible doubt ... It is ... you the jury say that you cannot feel an abiding conviction to a moral certainty, a moral certainty is all that is required. "You have been bombardered with the testimony of experts. An expert witness is a person who has special skill, knowledge or training ... You more -- 2025 RELEASE UNDER E.O. 14176

Summary  
The document details the trial of Sirhan Bishara Sirhan for the 1968 assassination of Senator Robert F. Kennedy at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles. The jury convicted Sirhan of first-degree murder on April 17, 1968, after deliberating for 16 hours and 42 minutes. Legal arguments centered on the nature of the crime (political assassination), Sirhan’s mental state, and mitigating factors such as intoxication and political motivations. Prosecutors emphasized the gravity of the act and its impact on democratic processes, while defense attorneys argued diminished capacity due to mental illness and trauma. The penalty phase was scheduled to determine a life or death sentence, with discussions about capital punishment, public sentiment, and the victim’s identity influencing juror deliberations. Juror Robert G. Evans was replaced after his father’s death, and legal debates focused on whether Sirhan’s actions met first-degree murder criteria or constituted manslaughter. The trial also included unrelated mentions of Kathy Fulmer, a go-go dancer linked to the assassination scene but not directly connected to Sirhan’s case.  

Key People  
- **Robert F. Kennedy** (victim, U.S. Senator)  
- **Sirhan Bishara Sirhan** (defendant convicted of first-degree murder)  
- **Grant B. Cooper** (defense attorney arguing for mitigating factors and political context)  
- **Lynn D. Compton, David N. Fitts, John E. Howard** (prosecution attorneys)  
- **Judge Herbert V. Walker** (Superior Court judge presiding over trial and penalty phase)  
- **Robert G. Evans** (excused juror due to family death)  
- **George A. Stitzel** (replacement juror)  
- **Mary Sirhan** (defendant’s mother, testified during penalty phase)  

Key Locations  
- **Ambassador Hotel** (location of Kennedy’s assassination on June 5, 1968)  
- **Los Angeles County Hall of Justice** (site of trial and jury deliberations)  
- **Biltmore Hotel** (juror housing during trial)  
- **Los Angeles County Courthouse** (legal proceedings and penalty phase discussions)  

Key Events  
- **June 5, 1968**: Senator Robert F. Kennedy assassinated at the Ambassador Hotel.  
- **April 17, 1968**: Sirhan Bishara Sirhan convicted of first-degree murder by a jury of seven men and five women.  
- **Penalty Phase**: Scheduled to determine life or death sentence, with arguments about political assassination and mitigating factors.  
- **Jury Deliberations**: Jurors debated whether the crime constituted first- or second-degree murder, citing legal definitions of premeditation and mental capacity.  
- **Juror Replacement**: Robert G. Evans was excused after his father’s death, leading to a replacement juror (George A. Stitzel).  
- **Legal Arguments**: Defense highlighted Sirhan’s mental state and political motivations; prosecution emphasized the severity of the act and its impact on democracy.  

Key Organizations  
- **Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office** (oversaw prosecution of Sirhan)  
- **Superior Court of California** (handled trial and penalty phase proceedings)  
- **California Adult Authority** (potentially involved in sentencing decisions for second-degree murder convictions)  
- **Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO)**: Mentioned as issuing posters portraying Sirhan as a hero in Arab capitals.

RFK Declassified Files

56-la-156-u_sec_001_ser_1--part_5_of_7.pdf

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