Robert F. Kennedy's Oldest Son Says 'Grievous Error' Made by Considering Sirhan's Parole
The son of slain senator Robert F. Kennedy reacted Friday to news that the California Parole Board recommended Sirhan Sirhan, his father's killer, for parole last week, saying the decision was a serious mistake.
Sirhan, who assassinated Robert F. Kennedy in 1968, is no longer a danger to society, the CPB concluded, taking into consideration the 77-year-old's enrollment in more than 20 programs. Sirhan participates in activities such as anger management, Tai Chi and Alcoholics Anonymous.
"Two commissioners of the 18-member California Parole Board made a grievous error last Friday in recommending the release of the man who murdered my father," Joseph P. Kennedy II wrote in a statement released Sunday. "I understand that there are differing views about ending the sentence of this killer, including within my own family. But emotions and opinions do not change facts or history."
For more reporting from the Associated Press, see below.
The ruling will be reviewed over the next four months by the board's staff. Then it will be sent to the governor, who will have 30 days to decide whether to grant it, reverse it or modify it.
"I hope the full parole board will reverse the decision over the ongoing review period and that the California governor, if faced with the choice to release him, will keep him in prison to serve out his full life sentence," Kennedy wrote.
Robert F. Kennedy was a U.S. senator from New York and the brother of President John F. Kennedy, who was assassinated in 1963. RFK was seeking the Democratic presidential nomination when he was gunned down at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles moments after delivering a victory speech in the pivotal California primary. Five others were wounded.
Joe Kennedy II is one of RFK and Ethel Kennedy's 11 children, nine of whom are still alive. Two of them, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Douglas Kennedy, said they supported the release of Sirhan.
Joe Kennedy and five of his siblings said Friday they oppose parole and pledged to fight the process every step of the way. He was joined by Courtney Kennedy, Kerry Kennedy, Christopher G. Kennedy, Maxwell T. Kennedy and Rory Kennedy.
"The prisoner killed my father because of his support of Israel," Kennedy wrote in a separate statement. "The man was tried, convicted and sentenced to death. Yet he now may walk free, no doubt to the cheers of those who share his views. Let there be no mistake, the prisoner's release will be celebrated by those who believe that political disagreements can be solved by a gun."
Kennedy, on a more personal note, spoke of growing up without a father.
"The prisoner left a pregnant mother of 10 without a husband and soon-to-be 11 children without a father."
He added: "We miss him every moment of every day, and struggle to understand why the prisoner should be able to enjoy the golden years of his life when he so viciously stole them from our father."
Sirhan was originally sentenced to death, but that has already been reduced to life in prison, Kennedy noted.
"My mother, Ethel Kennedy, and my uncle, Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, asked that his death sentence be reduced to life imprisonment as a demonstration of mercy. He received that mercy," Kennedy wrote. "No one should have the right to alter the lesser sentence requested by the person most affected by my father's death—his wife, whose last child would never know a father's touch. Nothing written, said or done will ever change that reality."
