Commentary
“When one reviews and objectively analyzes the infamous murders of prominent political leaders throughout the world since World War II, it becomes frustratingly evident that insofar as those cases are concerned in which the perpetrator was not immediately and clearly visualized, there was a paucity of forensic scientific evidence that was identified, preserved, and tested in order to identify the assailants.
The assassinations of President John F. Kennedy and Reverend Martin Luther King are the foremost examples of such instances that have regrettably resulted in perpetual, seemingly insoluble controversies.
The investigation into the assassination of Senator Robert F. Kennedy should have been different. Solid incontrovertible scientific evidence was available for thorough examination by competent, experienced forensic pathologists, criminalists, and ballistics experts. The results of all those tests and analyses would have unequivocally proven that Sirhan Sirhan did not fire the fatal shots that killed Robert Kennedy. Tragically, such meticulous, objective studies were either performed by less than scrupulous and experienced forensic scientists, or not undertaken at all.
Phil Van Praag and Robert Joling have done an outstanding job in putting together An Open & Shut Case that unequivocally confirms this premise. These authors have painstakingly revisited all the physical and forensic evidence in the RFK case, and they have established an air-tight case. It is extremely regrettable that this kind of investigation was not conducted in 1968. Nevertheless, there are many reasons why it remains important and necessary to establish the truth, albeit four decades later.
An Open & Shut Case is a must read, not only for forensic scientists and trial attorneys, but for all Americans who care about the criminal justice system, as well as the honor and dignity of our great country.”
- Dr. Cyril Wecht
“As a friend and colleague of the late Senator Robert F. Kennedy, I have long waited for a reliable presentation of what happened many years ago within the pantry of the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles, California in the early morning hours of June 5, 1968. Finally, a logical and scientific explanation has been reached through the efforts of the authors Robert J. Joling and Philip Van Praag.
For the first time in 40 years, the American public is presented with irrefutable facts that clearly indicate that Sirhan Bishara Sirhan, indeed, could not have and did not kill my friend Robert Kennedy.
Authors Joling and Van Praag present indisputable scientific data that leads to the inescapable conclusion that two guns were fired from two different locations and two different directions on that fatal night.
The five persons wounded and the one person assassinated on that fateful night were the victims of no fewer than 13 bullets that had been fired within that crowded pantry on June 5, 1968. That which the Los Angeles Police Department was unable to comprehend or decipher is clearly outlined in An Open and Shut Case, a book that everyone should read. For lawyers, judges, law enforcement personnel and forensic scientists, this book opens up vistas of thought challenging and compelling throughout. It is a must read!
- Robert Vaughn, Ph.D
“Bobby Kennedy lays in calm obscurity in an unadorned grave in Arlington National Cemetery, adjacent to the prepossessing eternal flame of his brother, Jack. This book dispels that lingering obscurity and resurrects with inspired insight the man and his tragic death, demonstrating the loss of a vibrant life.”
- Professor James Starrs of George Washington Law School Washington DC
“This fascinating re-examination combines the application of new technologies to old evidence, review of original police documents, interview with witnesses and exposure of the flawed Los Angeles crime scene and crime laboratory investigations to dispute conventional wisdom that a lone assassin - Sirhan Sirhan - killed Robert Kennedy. It is a must read for anyone who is interested in both Kennedy assassinations, whether one agrees or disagrees with the final surprising conclusions that are sure to stir new controversies.”
- Dr. Michael Baden, former Chief Medical Examiner, New York City
“Joling and Van Praag lead us on an investigative journey to the truth of the assassination of RFK. They have presented indisputable scientific data and forensic evidence to the mystery of the century. It is a fascinating read! There is much to learn from this engrossing book.”
- Dr. Henry C. Lee, Ph.D