US Presidential hopeful Senator Robert Kennedy was shot and killed by a lone gunman five years after his brother John was also assassinated.
Over 50 years later, Kennedy's assassin looks to walk free after being granted parole.
2
Robert Kennedy lies on the ground after being shot three times by Sirhan Bishara Sirhan Credit: Getty - Contributor Who killed Robert Kennedy?
The US Senator, commonly known as Bobby Kennedy, was gunned down in the kitchen of the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles.
He was shot three times by Palestinian-born Sirhan Bishara Sirhan, 77, and died the following day after failing to regain consciousness.
Bobby’s brother US President John F Kennedy was gunned down in Dallas, Texas, on November 22, 1963.
Born in Jerusalem in 1944, Sirhan’s family moved to the United States when he was 12-years-old amid escalating violence in the Middle East.
Short in stature, the troubled killer dreamed of becoming a horse-racing jockey but never managed forge any kind of career for himself, instead working in a series of menial, low-paid jobs.
Sirhan's resentment towards Israel and its major ally the US grew after the 1967 conflict, dubbed the Six Day War, in which Tel Aviv managed to capture more territory while fighting neighbours Egypt, Jordan and Syria.
Following the brutal conflict, Kennedy promised to send 50 American fighter jets to Israel if he was elected President.
Motivated by the New York Senator’s support for Israel, Sirhan assassinated Bobby exactly one year after the conflict started.
The shooter, who plead not guilty to the murder, claimed he was drunk when Kennedy was shot.
In a series of parole hearings and interviews, Sirhan had continually claimed he has little to no memory of the crime.
Was Sirhan Sirhan released from jail?
After 53 years behind bars, the California parole panel voted in favor to release Sirhan from prison.
The decision was made on August 27, 2021 but does not assure he will be released.
Sirhan's decision came after two of Kennedy's sons spoke on his behalf.
Over the next 90 days, the California Parole Board’s staff will review the hearing before sending it off to the governor for final approval.
Kennedy's son Douglas supported the board's decision.
“I’m overwhelmed just by being able to view Mr. Sirhan face to face,” he said. “I think I’ve lived my life both 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.”
When was Bobby’s assassination?
Robert Kennedy was killed on November 20, 1968, moments after winning the California primary in the race to become the Democratic candidate for the Presidency.
The 42-year-old, who had already won the Indiana and Nebraska primaries, was in pole position to win the party’s nomination before his assassination.
He would have faced Republican candidate Richard Nixon in the US election.
2
Sirhan Bishara Sirhan was being held in a maximum security prison in California after the death penalty was overturned in the state Credit: Corbis - Getty
MOST READ IN NEWS
DEATHS RISE UK Covid deaths rise by almost 50% in a month as 133 more people die
KICKED OUT Mum & son, 5, with serious heart condition face homelessness as they're evicted
Latest
HOMEWARD HOUND Plane lands to rescue Pen Farthing & dogs but his Afghan staff must stay
Exclusive
TRASH TALK Defiant locals refuse to hide bins after note from 'Hyacinth Bucket' neighbour
Exclusive
IMPOUNDED Pen Farthing's dogs will be seized when they arrive in UK from Afghanistan
COMING HOME Brit troops pictured on flight home as Kabul airlift ends with 1,000 trapped
What was Sirhan Bishara Sirhan convicted of?
Sirhan was originally sentenced to death by gas chamber after a three month trial in 1969.
However, three years after being convicted the US Supreme Court overturned California’s death penalty law in 1972.
We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online news team? Email us at tips@the-sun.co.uk or call 0207 782 4368 . We pay for videos too. Click here to upload yours