A Californian parole board has voted to grant prison release to Sirhan Sirhan, the murderer of leading candidate for the Democratic nomination for the presidency, Robert F. Kennedy (RFK).
RFK served as the 64th United States Attorney General from January 1961 to September 1964, and as the New York Senator from January 1965 until his assassination by Sirhan Sirhan in June 1968.
Sirhan Sirhan has served 53 years in jail for the shooting of RFK and though the Californian parole board’s vote has established that Sirhan Sirhan is no longer a public threat, it does not necessarily guarantee that he will walk free.
The final decision has to be taken by Californian Governor Gavin Newsom.
According to the Associated Press, the only news agency that was allowed to attend the parole hearing, Sirhan said; “Over half a century has passed. That young impulsive kid I was does not exist anymore. Senator Kennedy was the hope of the world and I injured, and I harmed all of them and it pains me to experience that, the knowledge for such a horrible deed,”
Now 77, it will be the 16th time that Sirhan Surhan will be requesting for parole.
RFK’s son, Douglas Kennedy has also been advocating for the release of Sirhan.
According to the Associated Press, Douglas Kennedy said; “I really do believe any prisoner who is found to be not a threat to themselves or the world should be released”.
