</s>TA 56-156 AOR/mlj Information was received from the Oklahoma City Office that on April 4, 1969, DON WISE was re-interviewed at Bristol, Oklahoma. WISE stated that he was positive that he picked up the individual he believed he was STIRHAN SIRHANA at about 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, June 1, 1968. Mr. WISE WISE WAS shown at 1:40 setting Saturday, Jun 6, 1968, Mr. SIRHAH B. STIRHAM which indi- cates that he Was in Los Angeles, California, at 1.00 p.m .- on June 1. 1968. Mrs. WISB was stated that his position of the date and noted that it would be impossible for the person to be both places that it was possible for the point that he had never seen photograph of STIRHAW STIRAHAN. WISE was a re-interpreted on April 8, 1969. at which time he was a photographer of SRHAN B. SRHANA, at which stated that while the photograph was looked somewhat like the individual was picked up could not have been STIRIAN SIRHAM. Mr. WISH pointed out that the person was picked ups was definitely over 5/64 in height, and noted the person that STIRAN was still only in height and the fact that STRIHAN was definitely placed in Los Angeles on the day he picked out the individual, the felt he must have been mistaken as to the identity of the hitchhiker. was shown to Mrs. D. WISSB, 1969; the photograph of SIRAHN B. SIRTHAH was shown on April 6, 1969), which time she advised this individual looked somewhatlike like the person she and her husband had picked looked somewhat Like the person who had not they picked identical. Mrs Mrs. SISE noted that that she and person that they picked up definitely was taller than 5'61" Mrs. Wise. stated she feels that the she and his husband were mistaken as to be either extremely shocked at the death of ROBERT KENNEDY to the identity up individually that they picked up and noted and may have let their imaginations get the better of their judgment. -109- 2025 RELEASE UNDER E.O. 14176

SIRIHAN BISHARA STIRHAN was tried for murder in the first degree on February 1, 1969, at Los Angeles County Superior Court. The trial resumed after a series of delays and objections from both the prosecution and defense.

On February 26, 1969, SIRIAN stood up in court and requested permission to speak, stating that he had willfully killed Senator ROBERT P. KENNEDY after 20 years of premeditated malice aforethought. The judge declared him incompetent to defend himself, and the trial continued.

On March 6, 1969, while SIRIHAN was testifying as a witness, defense attorney read the entire transcript to the court, including the jury of the events that occurred during SIRIHAM's outburst in the court. Judge WALKER advised the jury to disregard this testimony when determining SIRIAN's guilt or innocence.

On April 17, 1969, the jury returned a verdict finding STIRHAN guilty of murder in the first degree on count one of the indictment. On April 23, 1969, the jury returned a verdict of death for SIRIHAM.

Prior to the arguments concerning a motion from a new trial, Los Angeles District Attorney EVELLE J. YOUNGER presented a letter he had received from Senator EDWARD KENNEDY requesting clemency for SIRIHAM.

On May 21, 1969, the jury for a new trial for STIRHAN presented arguments for a motion for a new trial based on 13 points of alleged court errors. The motion was denied by Judge WALKER on all 13 points.

After the motion for a new trial was denied, Judge WALKER formally sentenced SIRIHAM to death and ordered him remanded to San Quentin Prison within ten days.

SHARIF BISHARA SIRHAN was acquitted in Pasadena Municipal Court on June 25, 1969, for creating a disturbance at St. Luke's hospital on March 28, 1969. He pleaded diminished mental capacity and testified that he had been under the doctor's care and taking pills and injections at the time of the accident.

MUNIR SIRHAN, brother of STIRIAN BISHARA SIRIHAM, was under deportation proceedings since being convicted of possession of marijuana in 1966. The Board of Immigration Appeals took under advisement a move to deport MUNIR.

ADEL SIRHAN, brother of STIRIAN BISHARA SIRIHAM, was identified as having requested the Fe restaurant along with his brother DID.

RFK Declassified Files

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