Second Gunman at 1968 RFK Assasination?
Robert F. Kennedy might not have been murdered by only one gunman. That's the claim that a witness to the 1968 assassination is now saying. The murder, Nina Rhodes-Hughes says, was committed by two gunmen. Sirhan was arrested shortly after the assassination took place. He has also been accused of five other shootings and is currently serving a life sentence within Pleasant Valley State Prison in Coalinga, California.
The fact that this is only coming out to the light now 44 years after the assassination, is quite disturbing. It is better late than never that this came out. Rhodes-Hughes commented that her silence was, in part, because of a cover up regarding the assassination. Authorities altered her account of the murder, and it has gone unchallenged for a very long time.
Now that Sirhan's lawyers are preparing a legal challenge to his conviction, Rhodes-Hughes is willing to testify on their behalf. She says that this is part of the healing process, and because she was witness to such a horrific event, she will probably never be fully healed. Still, this is one step closer in that direction. Rhodes-Hughes has been dealing with the murder for decades, and she is finally strong enough to take what she saw public.
Perhaps this will help Sirhan, but most likely - not. At his 1969 trial, Sirhan's lawyers never contested the fact that he was the sole gunman. Rather, Sirhan admitted to killing Kennedy with much preparation. He was originally sentenced to death, but his sentence was reduced in 1972 to life in prison.
Since that admission, he has gone on to recant his statement.
Experts say that even if there was a second gunman involved in the murder, Sirhan has not proven that he was innocent. Unless there is a lot of unknown new evidence uncovered, it is very unlikely that Sirhan will be released from prison. According to California's vicarious liability law, Sirhan will still be held as a guilty party—unless there is some sort of drastic new evidence introduced. It is extremely unlikely that Rhodes-Hughes testimony will provide this shocking new data.
Sirhan's legal team disputes the vicarious liability law's application to this case, but that matter will be decided in court. The new trial—if there is a new trial—will take into account evidence not ever discussed in court, including Rhodes-Hughes's revised witness testimony.
Her previous report had a total of 15 errors within it, she says. These are pieces of information that are included in her report to police that had been altered by the authorities. One of the biggest of these errors is the number of gunshots fired. While the original report says eight shots fired, she remembers telling the investigators that there were actually 12-14 shots. Some of these shots, she says, originated away from where she had witnessed Sirhan.
If what Rhodes-Hughes is now saying is true, this could mean a major overhaul of one of America's biggest assassinations. Hopefully, whatever happens, the truth can finally be arrived at and justice will be fully served.
The fact that this is only coming out to the light now 44 years after the assassination, is quite disturbing. It is better late than never that this came out. Rhodes-Hughes commented that her silence was, in part, because of a cover up regarding the assassination. Authorities altered her account of the murder, and it has gone unchallenged for a very long time.
Now that Sirhan's lawyers are preparing a legal challenge to his conviction, Rhodes-Hughes is willing to testify on their behalf. She says that this is part of the healing process, and because she was witness to such a horrific event, she will probably never be fully healed. Still, this is one step closer in that direction. Rhodes-Hughes has been dealing with the murder for decades, and she is finally strong enough to take what she saw public.
Perhaps this will help Sirhan, but most likely - not. At his 1969 trial, Sirhan's lawyers never contested the fact that he was the sole gunman. Rather, Sirhan admitted to killing Kennedy with much preparation. He was originally sentenced to death, but his sentence was reduced in 1972 to life in prison.
Since that admission, he has gone on to recant his statement.
Experts say that even if there was a second gunman involved in the murder, Sirhan has not proven that he was innocent. Unless there is a lot of unknown new evidence uncovered, it is very unlikely that Sirhan will be released from prison. According to California's vicarious liability law, Sirhan will still be held as a guilty party—unless there is some sort of drastic new evidence introduced. It is extremely unlikely that Rhodes-Hughes testimony will provide this shocking new data.
Sirhan's legal team disputes the vicarious liability law's application to this case, but that matter will be decided in court. The new trial—if there is a new trial—will take into account evidence not ever discussed in court, including Rhodes-Hughes's revised witness testimony.
Her previous report had a total of 15 errors within it, she says. These are pieces of information that are included in her report to police that had been altered by the authorities. One of the biggest of these errors is the number of gunshots fired. While the original report says eight shots fired, she remembers telling the investigators that there were actually 12-14 shots. Some of these shots, she says, originated away from where she had witnessed Sirhan.
If what Rhodes-Hughes is now saying is true, this could mean a major overhaul of one of America's biggest assassinations. Hopefully, whatever happens, the truth can finally be arrived at and justice will be fully served.
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