</s>ENCLOSURE 62-587-11179 FBI - CENTRAL RECORDS CENTER HQ - HEADQUARTERS Class/Case # Sub Sub Vol. Serial # 002 557 1 1 179 ONLY #331434 7/18/143614 RAPHAELAZZZ 2025 RELEASE UNDER E.O. 14176

Summary  
The document details the trial of Sirhan B. Sirhan for the assassination of Senator Robert F. Kennedy on June 5, 1968, focusing on legal arguments, psychiatric testimony, and jury proceedings. Prosecutors emphasized premeditation and malice aforethought, citing Sirhan’s planning and actions leading to Kennedy’s murder, while defense attorneys argued diminished capacity due to psychological factors such as dissociative states induced by intoxication and environmental stimuli (e.g., hotel mirrors). Legal debates centered on California’s "diminished capacity" law, which could mitigate sentencing if the jury found Sirhan lacked intent. The trial included cross-examinations of Dr. Leonard B. Olinger, who testified about Sirhan’s mental state, with prosecutors challenging his credibility and motivations. Arab media portrayed Sirhan as a Palestinian hero, though Arab governments avoided editorializing. Trial costs exceeded $850,000 by April 1969, with financial breakdowns attributed to multiple law enforcement agencies. Juror excusals occurred due to personal circumstances, and unrelated cases (e.g., Kathy Fulmer’s suicide) were briefly mentioned.  

Key People  
- **Sirhan B. Sirhan**: Defendant accused of assassinating RFK.  
- **Robert F. Kennedy**: Assassinated senator.  
- **Dr. Leonard B. Olinger**: Psychologist testifying for prosecution on Sirhan’s mental state.  
- **Grant B. Cooper**: Defense attorney advocating second-degree murder with life imprisonment.  
- **Russell E. Parsons**: Defense attorney highlighting Sirhan’s mental state and societal consequences of a lenient verdict.  
- **Emilie Zola Berman**: Defense attorney emphasizing trauma and psychological factors in Sirhan’s actions.  
- **Lynn D. Compton**: Deputy District Attorney leading prosecution, disputing psychiatric defenses.  
- **David N. Fitts**: Prosecution summation speaker emphasizing malice aforethought.  
- **Dr. Seymour Pollack**: Psychiatrist testifying for defense on Sirhan’s mental state.  

Key Locations  
- **Ambassador Hotel (Los Angeles)**: Site of the assassination and trial proceedings.  
- **Hall of Justice (Los Angeles)**: Location of trial and jury-related activities.  
- **Los Angeles County Jail**: Where Sirhan was held during trial.  
- **Beirut**: Context for Arab media coverage of Sirhan’s portrayal as a Palestinian hero.  

Key Events  
- **Trial summations** by defense attorneys arguing for second-degree murder with life imprisonment, citing diminished capacity.  
- **Cross-examination of Dr. Olinger** by prosecutor Cooper, questioning his credibility and motivations.  
- **Psychiatric testimony** regarding Sirhan’s dissociative state, trauma, and potential premeditation.  
- **Jury excusals**: Juror Ronald G. Evans dismissed after his father’s death; Lawrence K. Morgan removed due to medical issues.  
- **Plea bargaining discussions**: Defense sought evidence of a plea deal for life imprisonment, while prosecution resisted.  
- **Arab media portrayal** of Sirhan as a Palestinian hero, though Arab governments avoided editorializing.  
- **Mention of unrelated case**: Kathy Fulmer, a go-go dancer linked to the assassination scene, died by suicide after being identified by investigators.  

Key Organizations  
- **Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office**: Prosecution team handling the case.  
- **Defense legal team**: Cooper, Parsons, and Berman representing Sirhan.  
- **Psychiatric experts**: Including Dr. Leonard B. Olinger, Dr. Bernard I. Diamond, and others testifying on Sirhan’s mental state.  
- **Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO)**: Distributed posters depicting Sirhan as a hero, though not directly involved in the assassination.

RFK Declassified Files

62-hq-587_ebf_1179_sec_001_ser_1179_only-part_1_of_2.pdf

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