Why did Sirhan Sirhan assassinate Robert F. Kennedy, and why did the court not accept his confession?

Why did Sirhan Sirhan assassinate Robert F. Kennedy, and why did the court not accept his confession? Sirhan Sirhan assassinated Robert F. Kennedy on June 5, 1968, at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles, California, shortly after Kennedy had won the California Democratic primary for the U.S. presidency. Sirhan, a Palestinian Arab, stated that he was motivated by Kennedy’s pro-Israel stance, particularly Kennedy’s support for the sale of U.S. military aircraft to Israel, which Sirhan saw as contributing to the suffering of Palestinians.

Despite Sirhan’s confession and insistence that he acted alone, the court did not fully accept his version of the events for several reasons:

Mental Health Concerns:

Sirhan’s mental state became a significant point of discussion during the trial. He claimed to have little memory of the assassination itself and was diagnosed with mental disorders, which led some to question whether he was fully aware of his actions or had acted under some form of influence or psychological impairment.

Claims of Hypnosis and Mind Control:

Over the years, Sirhan and some of his defense attorneys suggested that he might have been hypnotized or manipulated into committing the crime. This gave rise to theories of mind control, where Sirhan was potentially used as a “patsy.” However, these claims were never substantiated with concrete evidence.

Conspiracy Theories:

Some have posited that there may have been more than one gunman. For instance, autopsy reports indicated that Robert Kennedy was shot at close range from behind, while witnesses stated that Sirhan had fired from a few feet in front of Kennedy. This discrepancy fueled theories that Sirhan might not have acted alone. Although the courts did not entertain these conspiracy theories officially, they contributed to skepticism about Sirhan’s sole guilt.

Public and Political Pressure:

The assassination of Robert Kennedy occurred during a politically charged era in U.S. history, and there was immense public and media pressure to resolve the case swiftly. The combination of political, legal, and social factors likely influenced the court’s handling of Sirhan’s confession and trial.

Ultimately, Sirhan Sirhan was convicted and sentenced to death in 1969, though his sentence was later commuted to life imprisonment when California temporarily abolished the death penalty in 1972. He has repeatedly sought parole, maintaining that he does not fully recall the crime, but he has been denied parole numerous times.