</s>1 THE POREMAN: You do solemnly swear that the evidence 2 you shall give in this matter now pending before the Grand 3 Jury of the County of Los Angeles shall be the truth, the 4 whole truth, and nothing but the truth. so help you God? 5 6 THE WITNESS: I do. 7 8 EXAMINATION 9 BY MR. HECHT: 9 10 Q Mrs. Nishikawa, what is your business or 11 occupation, please? 12 A Superior Court Clerk. 13 How long have you been so employed? 14 A Approximately 11 years. 15 Now, directing your attention to the case of 16 People versus Sirhan Bishara Sirhan, does that case ring any 17 bell with you? 18 A Yes, it does. 19 A In what respect? 20 Well, it was quite a lengthy case and it was a 21 case of international interest and I was the Court Clerk 22 during that case. 23 Q Was that case held in Judge Walker's court? 24 A Yes. 25 Q And you were working as Judge Walker' s Court 26 Clerk at that time? 27 A Yes, sir, I was. 28 Mrs. Mishikawa, I invite your attention too 2025 RELEASE UNDER E.O. 14176

Summary  
The document details testimony and procedural records related to the Sirhan Bishara Sirhan trial for the assassination of Robert F. Kennedy. Alice Nishikawa, a Superior Court Clerk, described her role in managing exhibits during the trial, including security measures such as locked file cabinets and restricted access to Judge Walker’s chambers. She confirmed the existence of a court order (Exhibit 40) regulating exhibit handling and noted that certain documents, like People’s Exhibit 71 (a notebook), were duplicated for jury use. John E. Howard, a consulting criminalist, testified about the condition of Sirhan’s gun at recovery, noting it contained spent cartridges but no live rounds. William W. Harper, another criminalist, discussed procedures for accessing and reviewing trial exhibits at the County Clerk’s Office. Additional testimony from Harper detailed his examination of ballistics evidence, including bullets, a gun, and autopsy materials, with concerns about storage practices (e.g., bullets stored in paper envelopes). He also described interactions with clerks, equipment used (microscopes, cameras), and the relocation of exhibits to the Supreme Court Clerk’s Office. A consultant physicist, unnamed, provided testimony on repeated visits to the Clerk’s Office from August 1970 to February 1971 to examine physical evidence, including specific dates and exhibit numbers (e.g., 48, 52, 53, 50, 51). The witness emphasized their focus on physical evidence over photographs and noted interactions with Clerk’s Office personnel to ensure accuracy.  

Key People  
- Alice Nishikawa (Superior Court Clerk)  
- John E. Howard (Consulting Criminalist)  
- William W. Harper (Consulting Criminalist)  
- Judge Horbert V. Walker (Presiding Judge)  
- Sirhan Bishara Sirhan (Defendant, accused of assassinating RFK)  
- George Shibley (Court official who issued a letter granting exhibit access)  
- Colonel Robertson (Occasionally accompanied Harper during visits)  
- Dr. Noguchi (Associated with photography equipment and bullet analysis)  
- The witness (Consultant physicist, unnamed)  
- Mr. McKissack (Mentioned in context of employment/retention status)  

Key Locations  
- Los Angeles Police Department  
- County Clerk’s Office (4th Floor)  
- Judge Walker’s Chambers  
- Grand Jury Hearing Room  
- Supreme Court Clerk’s Office  

Key Events  
- Handling and security of exhibits during the Sirhan trial  
- Issuance of a court order (Exhibit 40) by Judge Walker to regulate exhibit access  
- Duplication of evidence notebooks for jury use (e.g., People’s Exhibit 71)  
- Testimony regarding the condition of Sirhan’s firearm at recovery  
- Examination of bullets, a gun, and autopsy materials under microscopes  
- Critique of evidence storage practices (e.g., bullets stored in paper envelopes)  
- Movement of exhibits to the Supreme Court Clerk’s Office  
- Repeated visits to the Clerk’s Office by the consultant physicist from August 1970 to February 1971  
- Interaction with Clerk’s Office personnel to recheck exhibits for accuracy  

Key Organizations  
- Los Angeles County Superior Court  
- Los Angeles Police Department  
- County Clerk’s Office  
- Grand Jury of Los Angeles County  
- Pasadena Police Department

RFK Declassified Files

56-la-156-z_sec_002_ser_1_only-part_3_of_5.pdf

Document Summary

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