RFK Murder Trial: The Evidence (w/ Jim DiEugenio)

The trial of Sirhan Sirhan for the murder of Robert F. #Kennedy concluded 55 years ago this week after four months of courtroom drama.

The jury found Sirhan guilty of first degree murder for the assassination of Sen. Robert F. Kennedy, and attempted murder of five other innocent bystanders wounded by his barrage of bullets at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles.

The seven men and five women, who deliberated 16 hours and 42 minutes before reaching their verdict, found the young Palestinian was mentally capable of mature premeditation before shooting down the senator on June 5, 1968.

As the verdict was announced Sirhan, who had been nervously chewing at his fingers, stared straight ahead and showed no emotion.

After a one-day recess, the same jurors heard arguments as to whether Sirhan's fate should be life in prison or a sentence to the gas chamber at San Quentin. The penalty phase lasted only a few days in contrast to the 15-week trial.

The prosecution did not seek the death penalty but told the jurors either sentence would be just. The jury's ultimate unanimous verdict was death in the gas chamber for Sirhan. (The sentence was commuted to life in prison a few years later when California abolished the death penalty.)

As part of my ongoing investigative series "Who Killed Bobby Kennedy?" marking the 55th anniversary of Sirhan's trial, I recently spoke to #JFK/#RFK assassination historian James DiEugenio about the evidence in the case, which Jim believes points to a #conspiracy.

In this highlight from our interview, we dive into the autopsy and ballistics evidence presented at trial. In Sirhan's defense, DiEugenio argues that it was impossible for Sirhan's bullets to have hit and killed Senator Kennedy.

Jim DiEugenio is editor in chief at KennedysAndKing.com, author of numerous books on the assassinations of the 1960s,and wrote the screenplay for Oliver Stone's "JFK Revisited" documentary series.

Don't miss this important discussion! Premiers tonight at 9 PM Eastern.

Support my independent journalism with a donation or monthly membership at http://StrangeBedfellowsPodcast.com

I've endorsed #RFKJr for president in 2024. Join me!
http://Kennedy24.com/LoriSpencer