</s>Weekly Summary #45 Page 17 THURSDAY, APRIL 10 -- The three defense attorneys for Sirhan B. Sirhan, Grant B. Cooper, Russell E. Parsons and Emile Zola Berman, today offered their summations in the case calling for mercy tempered with justice for the young Arab. According to a report in a Los Angeles newspaper (Times), Cooper told the jury: "We are not here to free a guilty man. He is guilty of having killed Sen. Robert P. Kennedy. We are not asking for an acquittal. "On the facts of this case -- whether irr. Sirhan likes it or not -- Mr. Sirhran deserves to spend the rest of his life in a penitent- fary." Continued the newspaper: "Cooper, in a detailed explanation of the various aspects of the law that Superior Judge Herbert V. Walker will give the jury to judge the facts by, said that on the basis of both evidence and law, the defense will ask you to return a verdict of murder in the second-degree. I "Such a verdict, Cooper stressed, would still enable the jury to sentence Sirhan to life in prison. "Because of the conduct that brought him to the bar of justice in this case, 'Because of 'Cooper said, 'I wouldn't want Sirhan Sirhan turned loose on society.' Another Los Angeles Newspaper (Herald-Examiner) published excerpts of remarks by the trio of lawyers and quoted Cooper, in part, as follows: more -- 2025 RELEASE UNDER E.G.O.14178.

Summary: The document details legal proceedings and summations from the trial of Sirhan B. Sirhan, accused of assassinating Robert F. Kennedy on June 5, 1968. Defense attorneys Grant B. Cooper, Russell E. Parsons, and Emile Zola Berman argued for a second-degree murder verdict or manslaughter, emphasizing Sirhan's diminished capacity due to intoxication, dissociative states, and psychological trauma. They contended that the prosecution's claim of premeditation was unfounded, citing Sirhan's mental state and lack of prior planning. Prosecution, led by Chief Deputy District Attorney Lynn D. Compton, rejected psychiatric defenses, asserting the crime was cold-blooded first-degree murder. The trial included discussions on penalty phases (death vs. life imprisonment) and jury instructions regarding reasonable doubt. A separate mention notes the suicide of Kathy Fulmer, a go-go dancer linked to the assassination scene but found irrelevant to the case.  

Key People: Robert F. Kennedy (victim), Sirhan B. Sirhan (defendant), Grant B. Cooper (defense attorney), Emile Zola Berman (defense attorney), Russell E. Parsons (defense attorney), Lynn D. Compton (prosecution), Eville J. Younger (district attorney).  

Key Locations: Ambassador Hotel (location of the assassination), Los Angeles (city where trial occurred), Hall of Justice (court facility).  

Key Events: Trial summations by defense and prosecution, arguments over premeditation and diminished capacity, jury instructions on reasonable doubt, penalty phase discussions (death vs. life imprisonment), excusal of a juror due to personal loss, unrelated suicide of Kathy Fulmer linked to the assassination scene.  

Key Organizations: District Attorney's Office (prosecution), defense legal team (Cooper, Berman, Parsons).

RFK Declassified Files

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