Sirhan B. Sirhan Parole: Victim wounded in RFK assassination says he could support parole

(CBS/AP) LOS ANGELES - If Sirhan B. Sirhan, the man convicted of assassinating Sen. Robert F.Kennedy more than four decades ago, is granted parole Wednesday after nearly 43 years in prison, at least one of his victims says he'd be comfortable with that decision.

William Weisel, who was an ABC-TV director in 1968, was shot in the stomach when Sirhan emptied his gun into the crowded kitchen of the Ambassador Hotel where Kennedy stood moments after claiming victory in the California presidential primary.

"There's no doubt he was the shooter," Weisel said. However, Weisel said he will tell the parole board he has no objection to Sirhan's release "if the district attorney and the parole board decide it's to everyone's advantage."

At issue is whether Sirhan, 66, remains a threat to others or to himself, whether he has accepted responsibility for the crime and expressed adequate remorse and whether he has an acceptable parole plan if he is released.

But expressions of remorse could be hard to make since Sirhan has repeatedly claimed he doesn't remember committing the crime that he once said was done "with 20 years of malice aforethought."

"There is no doubt he does not remember the critical events," said William F. Pepper, the attorney who will argue for Sirhan's parole Wednesday. "He is not feigning it. It's not an act. He does not remember it."

Sirhan could address that if he speaks at the hearing at Pleasant Valley men's prison in Coalinga. Whether he'll do that is uncertain. He has rarely commented during 13 past parole hearings and sometimes hasn't shown up at all.

Parole board members may consider this in their deliberations, and they will likely look at the facts of the case - that Sirhan reported continued to fire his pistol until empty even while his hand was pinned to a table, and that he reportedly said "I did it for my country" before refusing to speak further - but what they won't take into consideration are the many conspiracy theories floated over the years.

Pepper, a New York-based lawyer who also is a British barrister, is the latest advocate of a second gunman theory. Believers claim 13 shots were fired while Sirhan's gun held only eight bullets, and that the fatal shot appeared to come from behind Kennedy while Sirhan faced him.

Pepper also suggests Sirhan was "hypno-programmed," turning him into a virtual "Manchurian Candidate," acting robot-like at the behest of evil forces who then wiped his memory clean. It's the stuff of science fiction and Hollywood movies, but some believe it is the key.

Pepper said in an interview with The Associated Press that he has had Sirhan examined several times by psychologist Daniel Brown of Harvard University, an expert in hypnosis of trauma victims. He will not disclose exactly what was accomplished in the sessions but said, "There have been substantial breakthroughs."

Pepper said he may have more to say after the hearing. "It was very clear to me that this guy did not kill Bob Kennedy," said Pepper.

Asked who did kill the senator, he said, "I believe I have it but I'm not going to deal with it at this time."

Having covered the White House through seven presidents, shooting victim Weisel said he does not subscribe to conspiracy theories because, "The government can't keep a secret."