</s>Weekly Summary #57 Page 7 Reported the newspaper: "He devoted his major effort to a contention that the defense had been misled by the prosecution last February, when the possibility of a change of pleas was being discussed. "At that time, Cooper said, both defense and prosecution agreed that Sirhan could plead guilty to first-degree murder with an understanding that he would be sentenced to life imprisonment. "But Judge Walker rejected this deal, insisting that if Sirhan did change his plea, the question of penalty must still be left up to the jury. "Cooper said the prosecution then offered, if Sirhran would plead guilty, to recommend that the jury hand down a life sentence. "As asked what the prosecution would do if Sirahan decided against the plea change and went ahead with the trial, Cooper Said, the prosecution- tion stated it would make no recommendation, either for a death penalty or a life sentences. "At That time, Copper said, Younger told the defense that the prosecution was 'in a position where we can't consistently urge the death penalty.' "It was on this understanding, CooperSaid, that the defence finally advised Sirhan to go ahead with this trial and not risk a jury decision for death despite the prosecution's reported willingness not to press for it. "It Was here, Coopersaid, that they were misled because the prosecution 'didn't keep its word' when Dep. Dist. Attty. John E. Howard more -- 2025 RELEASE UNDER E.O. 14176

Summary  
The document details Sirhan Bishara Sirhan’s legal proceedings, incarceration, and post-conviction developments following his 1968 assassination of Senator Robert F. Kennedy. It outlines plea bargain negotiations between defense attorney Grant B. Cooper and prosecutors, including an initial agreement for a life sentence rejected by Judge Herbert V. Walker. The trial proceeded with prosecutors advocating a death penalty for political motives, while Cooper challenged the exclusion of Sirhan’s notebooks during mental capacity evaluations. After a death sentence was imposed on May 21, 1969, Cooper sought a new trial citing judicial errors and Sirhan’s alleged insanity, which were denied. Sirhan was transferred to San Quentin State Prison’s Death Row in Cell 33 under strict isolation. Civil lawsuits against Sirhan and the Ambassador Hotel for injuries sustained during the assassination are noted. Additional sections reference FBI communications from June 1969, including case updates and unrelated investigations involving individuals like Eugene Bradings. A letter by Katherine Kennedy claims her father, Joseph Kennedy, orchestrated an underground network in Cyprus to assassinate RFK.  

Key People  
- Sirhan Bishara Sirhan: Convicted assassin of Senator Robert F. Kennedy; incarcerated at San Quentin State Prison.  
- Grant B. Cooper: Defense attorney representing Sirhan during trial and appeals.  
- Evonne J. Younger: Los Angeles County District Attorney overseeing prosecution.  
- Judge Herbert V. Walker: Presiding judge in Sirhan’s trial.  
- Dr. Thomas T. Noguchi: County coroner who performed RFK’s autopsy; later fired after a phone call about the senator’s death.  
- Katherine Kennedy: Claims to be niece of RFK and alleges her father (Joseph Kennedy) orchestrated an assassination plot via a Cyprus-based network.  
- Jim Braden: Involved in marriage scams, gambling operations, and linked to oil companies; present in Dallas on November 22, 1963.  
- Victor Emmanuel Pereria: Co-conspirator in marriage scams; his conviction was reversed by the U.S. Supreme Court due to marital status.  
- Robert Kaiser: Author of a book on RFK’s assassination; sought information from Noyes about potential conspiracies.  
- Michael Cowan: Former LAPD officer involved in land purchase schemes.  

Key Locations  
- Los Angeles County Hall of Justice: Site of Sirhan’s trial.  
- San Quentin State Prison: Location of Sirhan’s incarceration on Death Row (Cell 33).  
- Ambassador Hotel, Los Angeles: Site of RFK’s assassination.  
- Cyprus (Famagusta): Alleged location of Joseph Kennedy’s underground network.  
- Dallas, Texas: Site of JFK’s assassination; Jim Braden was present in University Park during the event.  
- Oceanside, California: Location of Empire Oil operations linked to Jim Braden.  

Key Events  
- June 5, 1968: Assassination of Senator Robert F. Kennedy at the Ambassador Hotel.  
- February–May 1968: Plea bargain discussions and trial proceedings for Sirhan’s conviction.  
- May 21, 1969: Sirhan sentenced to death by Judge Herbert V. Walker; transferred to San Quentin State Prison.  
- June 1969: FBI communications referencing ongoing investigations into Sirhan’s case and unrelated matters.  
- Alleged plot by Joseph Kennedy (via Katherine Kennedy) involving an underground network in Cyprus to assassinate RFK.  
- Black Panther meeting on Central Avenue in Los Angeles one month prior to RFK’s assassination; Sirhan allegedly received instructions from an anonymous source.  
- Jim Braden’s presence in Dallas on November 22, 1963, during JFK’s assassination and his connection to Lamar Hunt.  
- Discussion of the Zapruder film’s potential sale by former FBI Agent William Turner to CBS.  

Key Organizations  
- Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office: Prosecuted Sirhan and other cases.  
- Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI): Referenced in communications about case details and unrelated investigations.  
- California Department of Corrections: Managed San Quentin State Prison.  
- Black Panthers: Linked to Sirhan’s alleged involvement in a meeting prior to RFK’s assassination.  
- Al Fatah: Intelligence organization potentially tied to Black Panther activities.  
- Magnolia Petroleum Company: Connected to Jim Braden’s oil leasing operations.  
- CBS affiliate KNT-TV: Mentioned in context of the Zapruder film discussion.

RFK Declassified Files

62-hq-587_sec_043_ser_1199-1219-part_5_of_6.pdf

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