◆ SpookStack

Bobby Kennedy after the presidential candidate finished shaking hands with busboy, Juan Romero, and that Kennedy was facing Uecker, in the direction of the Colonial Room. Charach argued that Kennedy was walking face to face with Sirhan, and that Uecker absolutely halted Sirhan during the significant pause, after the second shot. Charach furthur states that “this testimony of Uecker was supported 100% before tne Grand Jury by banquet captain, Edward Minasian, who stated that Sirhan could not have been firing at Kennedy after the second shot, and that the muzzle of Sirhan's gun was three feet in front of Kennedy. Charach felt that the admission by chief defense counsel, Grant Cooper, that Sirhan had killed Kennedy (the only significant defense presentation at trial being that of diminished _capacity), and the stipulation by defense counsel on many vital points, prevented, according to Charach, the public from getting the full proof. Charach further felt that the People did not prove their case beyond a reasonable shadow of doubt. Additionally, Charach felt that Mayor Sam Yorty contributed to the mesmerization of the investigative efforts by reading at a press conference Sirhan's diaries, and saying "We know, of course, he killed Kennedy", and then releasing prematurely the Sirhan diaries to the media. Trial Testimony Fa A ier rire eal ee of Eveulttnesses nelative to harach's stétements Charach's statements, and those stated in the Isaac-Charach complaint of 1971, appear to be in conflict with trial testimony. several witnesses testified at trial as to Sirhan's physical posi- tion while shooting. Frank Burns Testimony Los Angeles Attorney Frank Burns, who was right behind Kennedy at the time of the shooting, testified at the trial that, as Senator Kennedy was shaking hands with the busboys, that he, Burns, stopped and turned in the same direction Kennedy was turning so that Burns was standing right off Kennedy's right shoulder as Kennedy was shaking their hands. Burns stated at trial that he "heard the noise, the ripple of what was a gun, and it sounded like firecrackers." In answer to the question of what direction Burns faced, Burns replied, "I was facing the same way that the Senator was, directly west of north looking about that way." (Trial. transcript page 3398). - 24 . ©