</s>Weekly Summary #47 Page 9 WEDNESDAY, APRIL 23 -- Sirhan Bishara Sirhan was sentenced today to death in the gas chamber for the murder of Sen. Robert F. Kennedy. The jury, composed of seven men and five women, signaled it had reached a verdict at 11:04 a.m. , after 12 hours deliberation since the penalty phase began at noon Monday. Reported at Los Angeles newspaper (Times): "The 25-year old Palestinian's face was ashen but impassive as he heard the death verdict. moments later he told his visibly shaken defense attorney; Grant B. Cooper, "Don't be concerned. Even Jesus Christ couldn't have saved me ... "I Appeal of a death sentence is automatic in California and Sirhan's defense said it will stay with his case through the appeal, " according to Dave Smith, staff writer for the newspaper. meanwhile, the same newspaper reported that the final life- or-death decision concerning Sirhan may be made by Gov. Reagan, who has the power either to commute the death penalty to life in prison, or to grant an outright pardon. "The governor, who has publicly expressed the view that the death penalty is a deterrent to crime, has used this power only once since taking office. "The committed the sentence of condemned slayer Calvin Thompson on grounds that psychiatrists said the prisoner was a mental defective. more -- 2025-RELEASE UNDER E.O. 14176

Summary  
Sirhan Bishara Sirhan was convicted of first-degree murder in the 1968 assassination of Senator Robert F. Kennedy during his victory celebration at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles. The jury, consisting of seven men and five women, deliberated for over two hours on April 21, 1969, before returning a death penalty verdict. Prosecutors, including John F. Howard and Lynn D. Compton, argued that Sirhan’s actions constituted political assassination and justified capital punishment as a deterrent. Defense attorneys Grant B. Cooper and Russell B. Parsons contended for life imprisonment, citing mitigating factors such as Sirhan’s mental state and the chaotic circumstances of the crime. The trial cost exceeded $1 million, with additional expenses anticipated for appeals. Sirhan was sentenced to death on April 23, 1968, but the final verdict was confirmed in May 1969 after appeals were denied. Governor Ronald Reagan retained authority to commute the sentence or grant a pardon. The case drew national attention, with debates over capital punishment, mental health, and political violence.  

Key People  
- **Sirhan Bishara Sirhan**: Convicted of assassinating RFK; sentenced to death.  
- **Robert F. Kennedy**: U.S. Senator assassinated on June 5, 1968, at the Ambassador Hotel.  
- **Grant B. Cooper and Russell B. Parsons**: Defense attorneys for Sirhan; argued for life imprisonment or new trial.  
- **John F. Howard**: Prosecuting attorney; emphasized political assassination as justification for death penalty.  
- **Lynn D. Compton**: Prosecution lead; framed the verdict as a deterrent to violence.  
- **Herbert V. Walker**: Superior Judge who affirmed the jury’s death penalty verdict.  
- **Ronald Reagan**: California governor with authority to commute or pardon Sirhan.  
- **Jerry Litman**: Los Angeles County District Attorney involved in trial and sentencing.  
- **Senator Edward Kennedy**: Requested clemency for Sirhan.  

Key Locations  
- **Los Angeles, California**: Site of RFK’s assassination and trial proceedings.  
- **San Quentin State Prison**: Proposed death row location for Sirhan; plans included isolation in a buffer zone.  
- **Vacaville Medical Facility**: Considered for protective custody due to risks from other inmates.  
- **Mexico City**: Mentioned in FBI efforts to locate Antonio Albizo Ortiz.  
- **San Diego, California**: Location of a letter found with information about George Lettiger or Anderson.  

Key Events  
- **April 21, 1969**: Jurors deliberated on Sirhan’s death penalty; prosecutors argued for capital punishment as deterrent to political violence.  
- **April 23, 1968**: Sirhan was sentenced to death by lethal injection after a penalty phase trial.  
- **May 7, 1969**: Final verdict confirmed; appeals process initiated.  
- **May 20, 1969**: Los Angeles District Attorney denied Sirhan’s motion for new trial and constitutional challenge to the death penalty.  
- **May 23, 1969**: Judge Herbert V. Walker affirmed the jury’s verdict, denying Sirhan’s motion for new trial.  
- **April 29, 1969**: FBI memorandum noted failed efforts to locate Antonio Albizo Ortiz in Mexico City.  
- **May 2, 1969**: FBI telegraph referenced a letter describing George Lettiger or Anderson as potentially linked to Kennedy and King’s assassinations.  

Key Organizations  
- **Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office**: Oversaw Sirhan’s trial, sentencing, and appeals process.  
- **Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)**: Conducted investigations into Antonio Albizo Ortiz and potential links to assassination plots.  
- **California Department of Corrections**: Managed Sirhan’s incarceration planning, including security measures at San Quentin and Vacaville.  
- **U.S. Department of Justice**: Involved in legal proceedings and constitutional challenges to the death penalty.

RFK Declassified Files

62-hq-587_sec_042_ser_1176-1198-part_4_of_5.pdf

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