</s>Weekly, Summary #44 Page 7 In his third day on the witness stand today, the witness, Dr. Seymour Pollack, said he did not believe, as the defense has con- tended, that Sirhan was in a dissociative state or hypnotic trance when he shot and killed Sen. Robert F. Kennedy. Agreeing that Sirhran is mentally ill, the doctor #steadfastly avoided terming that Sirihan is mentally Ill, as seven previous psychia- tristis and psychologists have called the defendant," said the newspaper. Another Los Angeles newspaper (Herald-Examiner) said the reporter that Grant B. Cooper, one of Sirhan's attorneys), challenged an earlier state- ment by Pollack that the defendant was only slightly mentally ill. Cooper read "the psychiatrist's Feb. 5 report to Dist. Atty. Evelle J. Younger, in which he described Sirhan as "psychotic." "The report said in part, ... In my opinion the killing of Sen. Kennedy was a political assassination by a psychotically disturbed" defendant. . "Dr. Pollock told the court, however, that he meant Sirhan ... " "psychotic" not clinically psychotic. I "The psychiatrist said a psychotic was a person suffering from. psychosis, 'a term used by me in the broad sense meaning that an indi- visual, may have within a long continuum a mild or minimum to severe degrees of personality disorganization.' "Clinically psychotic, he said, meant 'clinical evidence -- something you can see or feel or interpret -- of minimum to major more ... 2025 RELEASE UNDER E.O. 14176

**Sirhan B. Sirhan Trial**

The trial of Sirhan B. Sirhan, accused assassin of Senator Robert F. Kennedy, took place in Los Angeles, California from April 9-11, 1969. The prosecution's case emphasized premeditation and planning, highlighting evidence showing Sirhan's hatred for Kennedy and his visit to the Ambassador Hotel where the shooting occurred.

**Key Points**

* Sirhan was found guilty of first-degree murder by a jury on April 17, 1969.
* The defense argued that Sirhan had diminished capacity due to mental illness and trauma, citing his use of self-hypnosis and mirrors to induce a dissociative state.
* The prosecution's case emphasized premeditation and planning, while the defense argued that there was no conspiracy or helpers involved.

**Important Names**

* Sirhan B. Sirhan: the defendant
* Robert F. Kennedy: the victim
* David N. Fitts: Deputy District Attorney

**Dates and Locations**

* June 5, 1968: The date of Senator Robert F. Kennedy's assassination at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles, California.
* April 9-11, 1969: The trial took place in Los Angeles, California.

**Investigations**

* FBI investigation into the assassination
* Interviews with witnesses and individuals who may have information about the assassination

**Related Individuals and Events**

* Robert F. Kennedy's presidential campaign and assassination
* Sirhan Sirhan's trial and verdict

RFK Declassified Files

56-la-156_sec_013_ser_2726-2850-part_07_of_10.pdf

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