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Serhane Serhane has been in San Quentin since May of 1969. With the exception of the publicity surrounding a brief hunger strike late last year, his confinement here has drawn relatively little outside attention. He remains in cell number 33. South Side condemned unit number one death row,

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and his hunger protest revolved around the complete isolation he felt himself to be in there. Ah, Great, which kept her hand 15 ft from the nearest prisoner, was opened after his protest, allowing him to talk through bars to other death row inmates during recreational periods. But

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the reports that Palestinian guerrillas were holding hostages demanding Sir Hans Release focused worldwide attention once again on the 26 year old convicted killer of Senator Robert Kennedy. And that demand brought quick reaction from around California, first from Governor Reagan on the campaign trail in Newport Beach.

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Well, I think instinctively the first reaction of anyone is that you can't go down the road of paying of paying blackmail, but this is an international incident and certainly it's a part of the present national policy and the efforts that are being made to cool the

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conflicts that are going on. So I think it's proper that way, not make any comment until we do have all of the facts and that we do keep in touch with those in Washington who dio what State Department recommends that wants, Washington says released her hand,

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Would you release? Well, now you're asking me to speculate. I remember that we've had no direct contact on this. It's contact us has come publicly and a zai say The State Department says they are in receipt of We don't even know what's in it or they

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have. They told us so. Department officials. No, such a definite meeting has been set up as yet. It's just a case of staying in contact. Earlier today, the government Switzerland, West Germany, they were going to release prisoners released. Do you think this government now I don't

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know what prisoners they have and what their crimes are, or whether there uhh crimes in those countries in connection with the international incident? Um, we have a convicted murderer here in our country in violation of state law. The state is the jurisdiction with regard to the

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crime of murder, and you're just going to have to let me wait until we know all the details. And what is it? Steak. Do you think, sir, hand should go free under any circumstances? Yeah. There remained at this point in the day, a question as to

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whether or not the governor would have the authority to release her hand should the situation ever developed to that point. Chief Deputy Attorney General Charles O Brien, whose job he says is to be the governor's attorney, was in San Francisco. He had no doubts about his

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personal reaction, but admitted there was a legal question. I've been back reading the California cases from the turn of the century. There is no parallel with this. We do not know under the law, uh, it would appear on the face of it, the government. The governor

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has this power. But whether it would take concurrence by the Supreme Court in view of the lack of prior felony convictions on Sirhan's part, we're not positive. We think the governor has this power, but we're not positive. We are researching it right now. We're in touch

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with the governor's staff and intend to be in touch with the governor's staff all day. How do you feel personally, the demand is made to release their. I think if we do, we're going to get dozens and dozens of more cases. I think it za same

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situation is in the South American kidnapping. Releasing them in the first couple of instances did not stop the kidnappings. It all on the contrary, it fed the revolutionary zeal We're dealing with people who are fanatics who are extremely imitative. If it my own feeling and quite

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apart from my legal role here is Adviser, the government's chief deputy attorney general, is that if we give in on this, we're going to be hit again and again. Details on what's her hands her hand might know about the report and how he was reacting to

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it came from San Quentin's officer of the day. Joseph O Brien. Mr Brian, is there any likelihood or possibility that Sarah hands her hand would be released from San Quentin? I wouldn't be able to say on this. It's This would be, um, so far as you're

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concerned regarding him, President precautions seemed to be, uh, sufficient. In your opinion. Is there any likelihood that he would be released under this proposal? That would be hard for me. Thio say I just don't know the involvements. I would have to have more information before I

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could make a statement in that area. Um, sure. Land. Yeah, Well, I talked to the people on the road and they say that there's no reaction and they're sure that he knows about it. That if he if he didn't hear it on the radio there, quite

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sure someone else has advised him. And he's been acting very normal. Nothing of the ordinary. What's you're welcome. Bye, Mr Brian. What, in your opinion, would be the reaction of other prisoners in San Quentin if Serhane should be released? Well, there would. There would be a

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reaction, I would imagine from the from the other militant groups. And who would probably feel that a similar deal could be worked out for them? You think this would open the door to a series of hostages? The demanding prisoner releases around the world? Mhm. Really? I

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couldn't tell, but it is possible. Who would have the authority to release him? Uh, this I think that it would have to be handled it at the higher state level. I imagine that it would require some particular action out of the governor's office, and you've had

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no word from either the governor's office or California adult authority. We've had no information at all from any official source. Thanks. Yes, I'm quite sure he knows about it as theirs radios in the area. And if he didn't hear it directly, I'm sure somebody would advise

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him what happened on the radio. Any plans on the part of prison officials or any necessity, as you see it, too, for you to tell him it doesn't appear so at present. Until we get some official word. Does this sort of thing surprise you in reference

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to sir Hand? Yes. I'm surprised when any of this sort of thing happens. Had he mentioned before or indicated before that he expected something like this? Not that I know of directly, but I understand that he has made references in this area. What is his reaction

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today? As far as like, uh, in talking to the people where he's being held, his actions and normal through it all this Labor Day, San Quentin remained on holiday routine on the surface, unaffected by the storm of words and opinions swirling around one of its inmates.

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Pedal Brian for eyewitness news. San Quentin