Robert F. Kennedy’s assassin on the verge of being free after 53 years in prison

Sirhan sirhan, the assassin of US Senator Robert F. Kennedy, who spent 53 years in prison, was awarded the lconditional liberty after two of the victim’s children spoke out in favor of his release and prosecutors refused to argue to keep him behind bars.

The decision was a big win for the 77-year-old inmate, although does not guarantee your release. Now, the two-person panel’s decision at Sirhan’s 16th parole hearing will be reviewed over the next 90 days by staff at the California Parole Board. It will then be sent to the governor, who will have 30 days to decide whether to grant, revoke or modify it.

The 77-year-old subject reminded the two council commissioners that already “more than half a century has passed”. “And that impulsive young man that he was no longer exists … Senator Kennedy was the hope of the world and I hurt him, and I hurt everyone and it hurts me to go through this”, said Sirhan said, according to the newspaper’s version.

Douglas Kennedy, who was an infant when his father was shot and killed in 1968, said he was moved to tears by Sirhan’s repentance and should be released if he did not pose a threat to others .

“I’m upset just to be able to see Mr. Sirhan face to face,” he said. “I think I have lived my life in fear of him and his name in one way or another. And I am grateful today to see him as a human being worthy of compassion and love. . ”

The New York Senator, brother of President John F. Kennedy, was a Democratic presidential candidate when he was shot on June 6, 1968 at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles, moments after delivering a victory speech during of the crucial California primaries they transformed. in favorite for the presidential of that same year, in which Republican Richard Nixon prevailed.

Sirhan, who was convicted of murder, said he had no memory of the murder. His lawyer, Angela Berry, argued that the board should base its decision on who Sirhan is today.

Prosecutors have refused to participate in or oppose his release under a policy of Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón, a former police officer who took office last year after making a proposal reform.

Gascón, who has said he idolized the Kennedys and lamented the RFK assassination, believes that the role of prosecutors ends with conviction and that they should not influence decisions to release prisoners.