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Summary  
This document compiles transcripts and testimony from multiple grand jury proceedings and court-related discussions concerning the investigation into the assassination of Senator Robert F. Kennedy (RFK) by Sirhan Bishara Sirhan. The focus includes evidence handling protocols, court orders restricting access to exhibits, and testimonies from prosecutors, judges, and witnesses. Key topics involve ballistics analysis of a .22 caliber revolver used in the assassination, efforts to preserve physical evidence through restricted access measures, and judicial decisions to safeguard trial integrity amid public scrutiny. Testimonies reference prior high-profile assassinations (e.g., JFK, MLK) and the role of the Los Angeles County Clerk’s Office in managing exhibits. Court orders by Judge Arthur Alarcon and Judge Herbert V. Walker emphasize confidentiality and security for evidence, with limited access granted to attorneys and authorized personnel. The proceedings also address post-trial exhibit transfers and potential appellate review by higher courts.  

Key People  
- **Sirhan Bishara Sirhan**: Defendant charged with assassinating RFK; central figure in the investigation.  
- **Richard Hecht**: Deputy District Attorney overseeing evidence preservation and grand jury testimony.  
- **John E. Howard**: Chief Deputy District Attorney detailing trial procedures, witness statements, and ballistic comparisons.  
- **DeWayne Wolfer**: Criminalist conducting ballistics analysis of the weapon used in RFK’s assassination.  
- **Judge Arthur Alarcon**: Issued court orders restricting exhibit access to ensure trial fairness.  
- **Judge Herbert V. Walker**: Authored rules governing exhibit inspection and reproduction during the trial.  
- **Julius Koliner**: Official shorthand reporter for grand jury proceedings.  
- **Joyce M. Shannon**: Grand Jury secretary providing documentation on exhibit handling.  
- **David N. Pitts**: Deputy district attorney involved in Sirhan’s case and post-verdict procedures.  

Key Locations  
- **Los Angeles County Superior Court**: Site of grand jury hearings and court orders related to the trial.  
- **Los Angeles County Clerk’s Office**: Custodian of exhibits from the RFK assassination case; subject of scrutiny over evidence integrity.  
- **Chambers of Assistant Presiding Judge Charles A. Loring**: Location of a 1969 meeting referenced in the transcript.  
- **Clerk’s Office premises**: Where exhibits were stored and accessed under restricted conditions.  

Key Events  
- **Grand Jury Proceedings (August 16–17, 1971)**: Review of evidence handling protocols, including court orders to restrict access to exhibits from the RFK assassination trial.  
- **Ballistics Investigation**: Analysis of .22 caliber bullets recovered from the crime scene and test-firing comparisons conducted by DeWayne Wolfer.  
- **Court Orders for Exhibit Secrecy**: Issued by Judge Alarcon to prevent publicity and tampering, with limited access granted to attorneys and authorized personnel.  
- **Post-Trial Exhibit Transfer**: Exhibits were reportedly transferred to the Los Angeles County Clerk’s Office after guilty and penalty verdicts were returned.  
- **Appellate Review Consideration**: Mention of potential appellate review by the California Supreme Court for exhibits related to the case.  

Key Organizations  
- **Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office**: Led the investigation, evidence preservation, and prosecution of Sirhan Sirhan.  
- **Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)**: Provided investigative support during the trial.  
- **Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD)**: Collaborated on witness interviews and evidence collection.  
- **California Superior Court**: Oversaw grand jury proceedings and issued court orders for exhibit security.  
- **Grand Jury (County of Los Angeles)**: Conducted hearings to evaluate evidence handling and procedural compliance.

RFK Declassified Files

56-la-156-z_sec_001_ser_1_only-part_1_of_5.pdf

Document Summary

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