Parole Decision for Sirhan Could Set Up Dilemma for Governor

[The Straight Story]

Parole Decision for Sirhan Could Set Up Dilemma for Governor
Written for the web by Elizabeth Bishop, Internet News Producer


The man serving a life sentence for killing Robert F. Kennedy is once again up for parole. Sirhan Sirhan will appear before two members of a parole board today.

It is the 13th parole hearing. Experts say it is unlikely the board will recommend Sirhan be released. However, if the board does recommend Sirhan go free, it could create a conflict for Gov. Schwarzenegger whose wife, Maria Shriver, is Kennedy's niece.

Sirhan was convicted in 1969 for assassinating Kennedy at Los Angeles' Ambassador Hotel just minutes after Kennedy won the California Democratic Presidential Primary in June 1968. Sirhan was sentenced to death but that sentence was commuted to life in prison in 1972 after the California Supreme Court declared the death penalty unconstitutional.

http://www.kxtv.com/storyfull2.aspx?storyid=16471

[SoCalDem]

1. "commuted to life in prison in 1972 "... says enough for me

This whole parole thing is nuts.. Why on earth would they let him out now?? It's an exercise in stupidity..

[Selatius]

2. Sirhan single handedly destroyed a bright future for America

John fell first. Martin fell second, and Bobby was the last one, and in the end, he fell too.

[villager]

4. I'm not so sure how "single handed" it was, though...

n/t

[Donald Ian Rankin]

6. I don't think that makes a difference.

I don't think shooting a politician is any worse (or any better) than shooting anyone else. I don't know whether he'd be paroled or not if he'd shot someone not famous - I suspect he would be eventually, but I'm far from certain about that - but if he would be then he should be, and if he wouldn't he shouldn't.

[Selatius]

9. That's irrelevant to the fact there was a murder in the first place.

Bobby, no matter how important or unimportant he may have been, was the victim of a murderer. I never said shooting him was any worse than shooting anybody else, but he occupied a position in that period of time that could've easily decided the course of US history. If I said shooting him is worse than shooting anybody else, I might as well say, "Don't shoot Bobby; shoot that anonymous war protester instead." That would be playing God with the worthiness of each and every life, and I won't go there, and I never did go there.

[roguevalley]

3. since he changed the future of the country forever, and not for the

better, he should stay in. I don't believe in the death sentence but I believe life is a good thing some times for the crime committed. That family didn't deserve this again and we didn't deserve to lose a man who would have been president and led us all to a different future. Don't let him out, nazi boy. He is where he belongs.

RV, remembering that terrible day like it was yesterday and knowing if we had him, we wouldn't have had nixon

[muriel_volestrangler]

5. If the board did recommend parole for some reason

wouldn't Schwarzenegger excuse himself on the grounds of a personal interest, and the Lieutenant Governor make the decision? I'd have thought he would keep him in too.

[mulsh]

7. why is this even a "news" story?

he's been eligible for parole a number of times, never been given it. he's never getting out. all this item deserves is a 1/4 inch on some back page.
Ignoring the fact that he "single handedly changed the course of history" I resent that politicians murderers are given stiffer sentances than murderers of average joes. equal justice, ya know.
P.S. I canvased in my neighborhood for RFK & would have voted for him if I were eligible but I was 11 years old at the time.

[davidinalameda]

8. I'm doubtful that the parole board would want to open that can of worms

and recommend parole

he was sentenced to death so in my thinking, he shouldn't be eligible for parole even with the commutation of sentence to life