</s>Investigation, and a court order that the Grand Jury conducted its investigation. and the court order was obtained directing the County Clerk to preserve the evidence and not to allow persons other than the court clerk assigned to the case. At the termination of the trial, the evidence their representatives, to view evidence. At case, the court clerk was held in the chambers of the Presiding Judge where, a courtroom was held to the court. A court order from Judge Walllined. A clerk to show the exhibits to attorneys of record only, and only when notice had been given to the other side. This was to insure the evidence, and to insure that the integrity of any law firm was ever given notice by the County Clerk's Office exhibits would be preserved. However, no member of the District Attorney's staff was ever present notice by The County Clerk's Office examining the exhibits during almost a year. Many of the people by unauthorized persons for almost year. examinating the exhibitsduring 1970 and 1971 did not have proper authorities. exhibitions. 1975 - Proposed Tests By 1975, new criticism of Sirburn case involved several law enforcement agencies. Previous two-gun advocates and critics had been noticeably critical of L.A.P.A .- criminalist Delaney Wolfe. and the possibility of serious ballistics evidence discrepancy. But in light of the cloud of suspicion concerning government after with Watergate scandal, the term official version was received with the court's official notice. The court was received repeatedly heard that not only the L.AP.D. but the Los Angeles District Attorney's Office in general, and, District Attorney preventing the particular, were stonewalling, covering up, and had one demand that was central to their theme: demand that the Sirburn weapon that was fired. Despite the fact that at the Ward tested that a classical Lowell Bradford and Herbert MacDonnell bullets with the test fired bullets would be a necessary preliminary step before any determination could be made as to the with the Wolfer's test filed bullets. The need to determine up gun would be moot), a growing demand was made that the Sirburn weapon be retired. Habees Corps and a attorney, Godfrey Isaac, had filed a writ of court in January, 1975, alleging every previously cited theory of including the affidavits of William Harper, Herbert MacDonnell, including the affidavit of the State Supreme Court turned the 1974 Baxter Ward hearings, but the State supreme Court turned down the writ in February 1975. This did not seem to discuss the critics that there should be a new complete reinvestigation of the Robert Kennedy murder. 20

Summary  
The document details multiple aspects of the Robert F. Kennedy assassination investigation, focusing on ballistics analysis, evidence handling disputes, witness testimonies, and legal proceedings. Key elements include the 1975 re-examination of ballistic evidence related to Sirhan Sirhan’s .22 caliber revolver, which highlighted issues with leaded barrel conditions hindering individual bullet marking identification. Experts such as DeWayne Wolfer, Lowell Bradford, Ralph Turner, and Albert Biasotti analyzed whether bullets recovered from Kennedy, Mark Goldstein, and William Weisel matched the Sirhan weapon, concluding that while gross characteristics suggested a single gun, insufficient individual marks prevented definitive linkage. Disputes over evidence preservation emerged due to mishandling by the County Clerk’s Office (1970–1971), which violated court orders, leading to concerns about compromised forensic integrity. The destruction of ceiling panel x-rays and photographs from the Ambassador Hotel pantry area further fueled debates over transparency and potential cover-ups. Legal proceedings included Sirhan’s 1968 conviction for first-degree murder, his subsequent appeals challenging evidence suppression claims, and Special Counsel Thomas F. Kranz’s review affirming Sirhan acted alone. Witness accounts, such as those from Associated Press photographers and carpenters removing hotel panels, were scrutinized alongside sound tests assessing shot audibility. The investigation also addressed allegations of communist influence or conspiracies, which found no substantiation.  

Key People  
- **Sirhan Sirhan**: Defendant convicted of murdering RFK; central figure in all investigations.  
- **DeWayne Wolfer**: Criminalist who conducted initial ballistics tests and testified in 1975; criticized for inconsistent documentation.  
- **Lowell Bradford**: Ballistics expert who concluded no evidence of a second gun but noted limitations in individual marking analysis.  
- **Ralph Turner**: Clarified that "inconclusive" findings did not disprove a single weapon but indicated inability to definitively identify it.  
- **Albert Biasotti**: Analyzed bullet markings, noting accidental imperfections on Sirhan’s barrel as potential identifiers.  
- **Patrick Garland**: Questioned the possibility of matching bullets due to leaded barrel conditions.  
- **Wally Fong**: AP photographer who captured the "Bullet in the Wood" image; disputed details about its context.  
- **Angelo DiPierro**: Witness who identified a bullet hole in the pantry area.  
- **Lillian Castellano**: Criticized evidence, claiming multiple bullets were present.  
- **Jerry Owen**: Alleged to have encountered Sirhan before the assassination but failed a polygraph test.  
- **Larry Arnold**: Ammunition salesman who sold bullets to Sirhan; account deemed unreliable.  
- **Thomas F. Kranz**: Special Counsel who reviewed Sirhan’s case, concluding no external influence.  

Key Locations  
- **Ambassador Hotel (Los Angeles)**: Site of the assassination and subsequent investigation; pantry area and kitchen were focal points for physical evidence collection.  
- **Los Angeles County Courthouse**: Location of court orders related to evidence preservation.  
- **Rampart Station**: Police station where Sirhan was processed post-arrest.  
- **San Gabriel Valley Gun Club (Duarte)**: Where Sirhan practiced shooting prior to the assassination.  
- **East Fire escape**: Where Sandra Serrano allegedly heard shots during the assassination.  

Key Events  
- **June 5, 1968**: Robert F. Kennedy was assassinated at the Ambassador Hotel pantry area while exiting a speech via a service elevator.  
- **1970–1971 Evidence Handling Violations**: County Clerk’s Office mishandled exhibits, violating court orders to preserve ballistic evidence.  
- **1975 Ballistics Hearings**: Panel of experts re-examined bullets from Kennedy, Goldstein, and Weisel, concluding they likely originated from Sirhan’s gun but acknowledging limitations in individual marking analysis.  
- **Destruction of Ceiling Panel X-Rays/Photographs**: Controversial act that raised questions about transparency and potential cover-ups.  
- **Legal Appeals (1975)**: Sirhan’s death penalty appeal reached the U.S. Supreme Court, which upheld his conviction; California Supreme Court rejected claims of suppressed evidence.  
- **Witness Testimonies**: Included AP staff accounts of the "Bullet in the Wood" photo, carpenters’ descriptions of bullet holes in panels, and sound tests assessing shot audibility for Sandra Serrano.  
- **Investigations into Communist Influence**: Found no evidence linking Sirhan to such groups or conspiracies.  

Key Organizations  
- **Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD)**: Involved in initial investigation, evidence handling, and court proceedings; questioned about potential cover-ups or witness pressure.  
- **District Attorney’s Office**: Conducted early investigations confirming Sirhan as the lone gunman but faced criticism for stonewalling during later inquiries.  
- **County Clerk’s Office**: Violated court orders by mishandling ballistic exhibits from 1970–1971.  
- **California Supreme Court**: Finalized Sirhan’s conviction and rejected appeals citing suppressed evidence claims.  
- **Special Counsel’s Office (Thomas F. Kranz)**: Conducted independent review of Sirhan’s case, concluding no external influence.  
- **American Academy of Forensic Sciences**: Mentioned in discussions about forensic analysis and potential for an independent crime laboratory to avoid political interference.

RFK Declassified Files

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