Robert F Kennedy assassin granted parole after 53 years

dark crystal

Just reading that Sirhan Sirhan, the man who shot and killed RFK in 1968 is on his way to being parolled.

https://news.sky.com/story/robert-f-kennedys-killer-sirhan-sirhan-granted-parole-after-two-of-rfks-sons-say-they-support-his-release-12392706

In two minds about this; not sure how much good it would do keeping him locked up until he dies (he's 77 now), but another part of me thinks he should serve life for taking a life. Kennedy's death almost certainly changed the political landscape of America for decades to come, however his own children support his freedom, so I suppose one can't argue much with that.

I do wonder how different the US would be today had Kennedy won the Presidency though, would the Vietnam war have ended earlier? Would he have beaten Nixon? Thanks to Sirhan, we'll never know!

Larbre34

Never a Jack Ruby around when you need one.

Real Donald Trump

Seems like a sweet old man, he's served his time, let him enjoy the short few years he has left.

trashcan

I saw a documentary years ago which suggested there was a bit of a “Manchurian Candidate” vibe to the RFK assassination. The fact that Sirhan claims not to remember the shooting is strange, if he’s telling the truth. Does seem a bit coincidental that both Kennedy’s were allegedly taken out by lone nut assassins.

Hangdogroad

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117813867#Comment_117813867

His claim that he can't remember smells of bullshit. He's just another sociopath loser like Mark Chapman who wanted to be famous.

One of the Kennedy sons supports his release so that's enough for me tbh.

Anne_Widdecombe

Absolute disgrace that Robert Kennedy's children are supporting the parole of the man that killed their father.

dark crystal

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117816582#Comment_117816582

In fairness, only two of them are. The other six are very much against it and have written to the California parole board stating such:

https://variety.com/2021/politics/news/robert-f-kennedy-children-assassin-parole-1235051114/

Strumms

It’s a bit odd, a few years back Paul Schrade who was also shot in the attack claims or is adamant that Sirhan wasn’t the gunman.

he has led a long held belief that the state of Israel could have been responsible... for both RFK and JFK murders.

I would never ever support the release of someone who murdered a member of my family.

53 years is some stint in jail all the same......if he is unlikely to ever reoffend,what purpose deos it pose keeping him locked up?

keeping this lad, who is already beyond average life expectancy for males in the US,in jail,passes beyond justicefor victim into retribution terriotory imo and that only serves to further interests of the loudest/most vocal & not whats best for society

ForestFire

In Ireland he'd be out in what? 10 to 14 years?

53 years seems long enough to take from him, leaving him a few years at 77 now. As long as they have deemed he is no longer a risk, of course.

Esel

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117816859#Comment_117816859

John Shaw still locked up here afaik (44 years).

https://extra.ie/2017/08/01/news/irish-news/depraved-double-killer-john-shaw-sues-state

He wasn't a mass murderer nor did he kill children. He's served an adequate amount of time to pay for what he did. Let him out under parole and limited freedom.

Faugheen

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117816859#Comment_117816859

More stupid bollocks about the Irish justice system designed to whip people into a frenzy

Manach

Historically, reading from reports at the time there was a deep sense of shock at all societal levels. The assassination contributed to much of the chaos and social upheaval that America experienced. While it is vanishing small that Kennedy's murderer will re-offend, the harm that was done from the lost opportunities and hope still reverberates in society.

osarusan

I don't think who was murdered (famous politician, musician, whoever) should come into the equation.

If, applying their own regulations and evaluations, he is eligible for parole and he is deemed no longer a risk, then so be it.

ohnonotgmail

I don't think people should be talking as if this is a done deal. It still has to be approved by the full parole board and the governor of california has the power to overrule any decision to release. The man should be left to rot.

Nermal

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117816798#Comment_117816798

What purpose does it serve to keep him locked up?

Justice.

Melanchthon

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117822925#Comment_117822925

I don't really see why he should be left in jail, he's an old man now that killed one person and has spent 50 years in jail, if they release him they could lock up for a proper sentence someone much more likely to re-offend. Those young girls that killed the Uber driver in Washington DC while robbing his car won't ever see the inside of a jail cell for example.

Or is it only because of who he killed that it matters?

o1s1n

Imagine being a 77 year old man knowing you're still stuck in prison for something you did when you were 24. You'd be raging at your younger self.

53 years in prison, over twice his age when he committed the crime.

ohnonotgmail

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117824115#Comment_117824115

nothing to do with who he killed. he committed a premeditated murder. If it was my father I wouldn't want the murderer to see the light of day again. Life should mean life.

magicbastarder

one question i'd have would be how would he be expected to cope with life outside prison, after over 50 years?

i've seen 'the shawshank redemption' so know all about the issues.

AbusesToilets

Isn't there fairly credible forensic evidence that the shot that killed Kennedy was from behind? It has always struck me as very odd case.

Black Swan

Mixed feelings. Do not believe in capital punishment in any case. He was serving life after court ruling reduced sentence from death. Social status of victim should not be a factor. Mitigating factors in the commission of the crime may apply in some cases, but I do not see any here. Consequently, l would not be in favor of his release on parole.

Melanchthon

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117824165#Comment_117824165

There is limited space in the prison system even in the USA, and I gave the example of those girls that killed the Uber driver? His death doesn't matter a day in jail? I know much younger but sure I could find other examples of short US sentences since they seem to have gone much softer the last year or two.

osarusan

I have no problem with the 'Life should mean life' argument, but in this particular jurisdiction it doesn't always mean that - there are conditions under which a person can be released.

If his legal team can convince the relevant people that he meets those conditions, then I don't have an issue with it tbh.

Black Swan

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117824415#Comment_117824415

Depends upon the state.

ForestFire

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117818548#Comment_117818548

I asked a question, which if you know the answer, you could have simple said so with the accusations?

So I looked into a bit more and found this published in the Irish media below, about life sentences (my not all be for murder per say, but must be something almost as bad)

Yes it's more than 14 years in my question, but no where near 53 years and has been as low as 11 years for life sentences in the past.

So not sure where your getting , stupid, and trying to whip up anything by having a discussion and some questions?

"The average jail time served by prisoners sentenced to life who were released from custody in 2019 was 20 years, up from around 18 years in 2018 and 2017, new figures show.

The shortest amount of time a ‘lifer’ released last year served was 14 years and the longest was 28 years, according to the Parole Board.

Its annual report for 2019 shows that the jail time released ‘lifers’ have served has fluctuated over the last two decades, from a low of 11 years in 2002 and a high of 22 years in 2012 and 2016"

ohnonotgmail

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117824415#Comment_117824415

So because somebody else didn't get the jail time they deserved Sirhan Sirhan should be released? What sort of stupid thing is that to say?

ohnonotgmail

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117824486#Comment_117824486

28 years is not the longest served by a lifer in Ireland. John shaw is still locked up after 45 years and will never be released. The only way he is leaving prison is in a wooden box.

ForestFire

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117824959#Comment_117824959

Never said it was,

it's a direct quote from the parole board, and went read properly, it's clear in my post, it is for one particular year releases they were talking about the minimum and maximum severed time for that year only.

ohnonotgmail

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117825075#Comment_117825075

so not really of much use then.

TheValeyard

I wonder what kind of President Robert Kennedy would have been. The man genuinely seemed intereij civil rights and progress.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117824077#Comment_117824077

What extra justice can be achieved locking up for 54 years vs 53?

At what point deos justice become retribution??

Nermal

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117834009#Comment_117834009

When it's cruel, or driven by emotion.

Keeping this man in prison until he dies is neither of those things.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117834144#Comment_117834144

But what deos it achieve though?

Logically speaking,i struggle to see any sense in it anyway,the lad is headed for 80,spent 53 years in jail like,i dont see any merit in continuing to keep him there tbh (assuming he is reformed/unlikely to reoffend)

ohnonotgmail

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117834331#Comment_117834331

sure what is the point in locking anybody up at all? should open the gates of all prisons now.

TheValeyard

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117834338#Comment_117834338

Ahhh the Irish system!

Tony EH

Does Sirhan Sirhan still claim to "not remember" what happened?

I...ahem...remember seeing an interview with him and he was saying that he had no recollection of why he was there or of the events. TBH, it didn't sound convincing then and still doesn't.