Plain Talk Eight

What If?

(This section is for the seasoned Robert F. Kennedy assassination researcher)

What if no murder weapon was actually recovered from the pantry crime scene of the Ambassador Hotel?

What if no crime scene shell casings were recovered?

What if the assassin took the murder weapon with him after he shot RFK?

What if Sirhan really was a diversion - a patsy?

The above questions arise from many years of research into the numerous evidentiary problems in the Sirhan case. The above questions should not be construed as being fact-based conclusions. They are not, however, to me they make a great deal of sense.

But that’s all in the past. Let us slow-forward to Sirhan’s newest appeal to the court for judicial review of some truly questionable evidence in his case. This time around, Sirhan has standing next to him a sophisticated barrister in a better fitting suit (and I’ve heard he is no dummy). Which will probably mean Sirhan’s case will get more press time.

It is not so much a question of when the appellate court will respond to Sirhan’s never-ending appeals but rather a question of what the courts actually can do at this stage?

The fact is, you cannot restore the evidence to its 1968 condition. Too much time has passed and most of the evidence is, without the slightest doubt, in a far too degraded condition. However, that is not to say all of the evidence is valueless.

Speaking as a lay person one of the greatest challenges I see in fighting a case is the enormous power of the press and the tremendous influence they wield . To be sure newsmen are a smart and hard -working breed, but they are also under enormous pressure to get their story out in the shortest time possible. Realistically, today is the world of sound bite - we can no longer afford the luxury of the necessary time it takes to get the story straight.

I’ll bet Azdak (Brecht’s very wise judge) would make short work of this mess. First he would put the “Statute Book” on his chair and sit on it. Then he was ready to hear the case. (that wily Brecht couldn‘t resist mocking the ancients for using a medicine book for a pillow to cure a headache) Then he had Azdak administering Solomon-like law in double -quick time. I wonder how he would rule on Sirhan’s appeal?

Rose Lynn Mangan, 1-22-2012