Sirhan Bishara Sirhan | Biography

• By Stone Palmer
• Original : January 20, 2025

Who is Sirhan Bishara Sirhan?

Sirhan Bishara Sirhan is a notable figure in American history, infamous for the assassination of Senator Robert F. Kennedy on June 5, 1968. Born on March 19, 1944, in Jerusalem, Mandatory Palestine, Sirhan moved to the United States at the age of 12, where he graduated from college in California. Raised as a Palestinian Christian, his early life was influenced by cultural shifts that came with his emigration. Sirhan became increasingly politically aware, particularly regarding U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East, which fueled his resentment towards Kennedy, who he believed supported Israel during the 1967 Six-Day War.

On that fateful evening in 1968, Sirhan shot Kennedy in a Los Angeles hotel kitchen shortly after Kennedy had celebrated his victory in the California primary election. The senator, a Democratic presidential candidate, succumbed to his injuries the following day, marking a tragic moment in American political history. Sirhan's motives, rooted in political beliefs and personal grievances, were later examined during his trial. Despite confessing to the crime, he pleaded not guilty and was ultimately convicted of first-degree murder, initially receiving the death penalty, which was later commuted to life imprisonment following a change in California law. His ongoing attempts for parole have been consistently denied, as he continues to grapple with the memory of his actions and their implications.

Early Life and Education

Sirhan Bishara Sirhan was born on March 19, 1944, in Jerusalem, Mandatory Palestine, to a Palestinian Christian family. He also held Jordanian citizenship at birth. At the age of 12, he relocated to the United States, initially living in New York before moving to California. In California, Sirhan pursued his education, attending Pasadena City College, where he embraced various interests and began to shape his identity as a young adult.

A fervent Christian, Sirhan experimented with several religious denominations throughout his life. He identified as a Baptist and later as a Seventh Day Adventist before being drawn to the mystical teachings of the Rosicrucians, an occult organization. During this time, he worked at stables for a racetrack in Arcadia, California. His diverse experiences and explorations reflected a complex personality that would later intersect with significant historical events.

Career start: Interaction with the Rosicrucians

Sirhan Bishara Sirhan's interaction with the Rosicrucians marked a notable part of his life before the tragic events surrounding the assassination of Senator Robert Kennedy. As a young adult, Sirhan embarked on a spiritual journey that led him to explore various Christian denominations, including Baptist and Seventh Day Adventist beliefs. However, it was his involvement with the Rosicrucians, a mystical and esoteric organization, that significantly influenced his worldview during his formative years in America. This association with the occult contributed to his unorthodox beliefs and potentially affected his mental state leading up to the pivotal moment of Kennedy's assassination.

Throughout his life, Sirhan's relationship with the Rosicrucians was characterized by a search for identity and purpose. He sought solace in the group's doctrines while also grappling with his own psychological struggles. His involvement in the organization raised questions about the nature of his thought processes and actions in the lead-up to the tragic event in June 1968. Despite the collaborative and philosophical aspects of being a Rosicrucian, history reflected a complex dynamic that would intertwine with the changing political landscape of the time, eventually culminating in the assassination that shocked the nation and reshaped his life’s trajectory forever.

Murder of Robert Kennedy: Motives and actions

Sirhan Bishara Sirhan is infamously known for the assassination of Senator Robert F. Kennedy on June 5, 1968, during a pivotal moment in American political history. At the time, Kennedy was campaigning for the Democratic presidential nomination after his victory in the California primary. Sirhan's actions were rooted in a deep-seated resentment towards Kennedy’s staunch support for Israel, particularly following the Six-Day War in 1967. Sirhan held specific beliefs that positioned Kennedy’s political alignment against his views as a Palestinian Christian, which ultimately fueled his drastic decision to take the senator’s life.

The aftermath of the shooting revealed complexities surrounding Sirhan's motives and state of mind. Captured at the scene, he initially confessed to the murder, though he later pleaded not guilty. His trial was marked by erratic behavior and claims of diminished capacity. Despite his legal team's efforts, he was convicted of premeditated murder and sentenced to death, a ruling that was later commuted to life imprisonment. Over the years, numerous parole requests have been denied, and Sirhan has maintained a narrative of memory loss regarding the events surrounding Kennedy's assassination, complicating public understanding of his motives and psychological state at the time of the crime.

Trial and Parole Requests

Sirhan Bishara Sirhan was tried for the murder of Senator Robert Kennedy, which he committed on June 5, 1968. After being captured at the scene, he initially confessed to police but later pleaded not guilty, raising questions about his mental state. His trial featured remarkable moments, including a rejected request to change his plea to guilty due to the incriminating details in his personal journals. The courtroom proceedings revealed his erratic behavior, which might have indicated diminished capacity. Nevertheless, a jury found him guilty of premeditated murder on April 17, 1969, and he was sentenced to death.

Following a significant change in California's death penalty laws, Sirhan's sentence was commuted to life imprisonment in 1972. Since then, he has made numerous requests for parole, totaling 14 as of 2011, but all have been denied. His legal counsel has suggested that Sirhan has no recollection of the murder, attributing this to brainwashing by the Rosicrucians or political organizations. There have also been claims of another shooter at the scene, particularly from eyewitness Nina Rhodes-Hughes, adding layers of controversy to Sirhan's case while he continues to express remorse for his actions.

Personal Life: Married Life, Kids

Sirhan Bishara Sirhan's personal life has largely been marked by his tumultuous past rather than relationships. After moving to the United States at age 12, he lived a relatively private life that was punctuated by his later controversial actions. While details about his marriage and family life remain largely obscure, it is known that he did marry in 1969 while awaiting trial. The marriage reportedly lasted only a short time, and little public information about his spouse or children has been disclosed, likely due to the stigma and notoriety surrounding his past.

Throughout his life, Sirhan has been described as a complex individual influenced by various beliefs and ideas. His brief stint as a married man during the 1960s is perhaps overshadowed by his later life in prison, where he has sought companionship and interaction with fellow inmates. Despite several attempts at parole, Sirhan remains incarcerated, as the implications of his actions have forever changed the trajectory of his personal life and relationships. He has publicly expressed remorse for his crime, suggesting a desire to reconnect with family and seek forgiveness, but the shadow of his past continues to loom large over any potential personal reconciliations.

Net Worth and Earning: Salary details

Sirhan Bishara Sirhan, born on March 19, 1944, in Jerusalem, is best known for the assassination of Senator Robert Kennedy in 1968. While specific details about Sirhan's net worth are not publicly available, his high-profile criminal case and subsequent life imprisonment have considerably impacted his earning potential. Prior to his notoriety, Sirhan worked in various lower-wage jobs, including as a stable hand, which likely provided him with minimal income. After his conviction, the inability to secure employment has further restricted any possible wealth accumulation.

Today, Sirhan finds himself largely dependent on the support of his family and well-wishers, who advocate for his release and champion his claims of brainwashing and lack of memory concerning the assassination. The years spent in prison have limited his ability to earn a traditional income, leading to speculation about his overall financial status. It's important to note that as a convicted felon, any financial assets Sirhan might have possessed have likely been depleted over the decades due to legal costs and other expenses associated with his incarceration.