Robert F. Kennedy killer has come close to parole

Sentenced to life in prison, Sirhan had tried 15 times to obtain parole, without success. However, this Friday, for the first time, the Los Angeles prosecution did not oppose the request.

Robert F. Kennedy, the younger brother of John F. Kennedy who was also assassinated, was shot dead at dawn on June 6, 1968 at the Ambassador Hotel, Los Angeles, after delivering a speech for his victory in the party’s primary election. democrat. California, on the way to the presidential race. The then senator died the next day, at the age of 42.

Sirhan, a native of Jerusalem and the United States since 1956, was convicted of the crime. At the age of 24, he confessed to the murder in court, but said he did not remember how it happened. He was captured at the scene of the crime, still with the gun in hand, but for years rumors circulated that there was a second murderer.

Paul Schrade, a friend of the Kennedy family who was with “Bobby” during the shooting and was injured, said the possibility of parole was “a good decision”. “I am truly grateful to the parole board for giving Sirhan the opportunity to return home.”

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., one of the late senator’s eleven children, has also expressed doubts in the past about responsibility for the crime.

Controversy over the case began during Sirhan’s trial, when prosecutors presented an autopsy report showing Kennedy was shot from behind. Sirhan was in front.

In 2013, a US judge who dismissed one of Sihran’s appeals dismissed the version saying the direction of the bullet could be explained by “chaos” because Kennedy could have turned his head during the shooting.