Kennedy Cousin to Stay Behind Bars for Murder
Finally! Michael Skakel Will STAY Behind Bars!
Now Martha Moxley can rest in peace.
NORWALK, Conn. (AP) — The state's highest court has upheld Kennedy cousin Michael Skakel's murder conviction. Skakel, a nephew of Ethel Kennedy, was convicted in 2002 of bludgeoning his neighbor, Martha Moxley, to death with a golf club in 1975 in wealthy Greenwich. Skakel, who along with the victim was 15 at the time, is serving 20 years to life in prison.
He appealed his conviction to the Connecticut Supreme Court last year, arguing among other things that the statute of limitations had expired when he was charged in 2000. "I'm not at all doubtful Michael did this. I know he did this," Dorothy Moxley, Martha's mother, said. "I hope this is the last we'll hear of them."
The defense had argued that, at the time of the killing, the statute of limitations was five years, so Skakel could not be prosecuted. Skakel also argued that the case should not have been transferred to Superior Court from Juvenile Court, where he was first charged. Authorities have called the transfer from Juvenile Court "the only reasonable route," noting that Skakel was 40 when he was arrested.
The appeal also contended that prosecutors engaged in misconduct during closing arguments by calling Skakel a "spoiled brat" in an effort to inflame the jury. Further, the appeal criticized the prosecution for presenting a taped interview of Skakel that was played as a projected photo of a smiling Martha Moxley dissolved into a grim crime scene photo. Skakel's attorneys called the audiovisual presentation a "made-for-conviction movie."
He appealed his conviction to the Connecticut Supreme Court last year, arguing among other things that the statute of limitations had expired when he was charged in 2000. "I'm not at all doubtful Michael did this. I know he did this," Dorothy Moxley, Martha's mother, said. "I hope this is the last we'll hear of them."
The defense had argued that, at the time of the killing, the statute of limitations was five years, so Skakel could not be prosecuted. Skakel also argued that the case should not have been transferred to Superior Court from Juvenile Court, where he was first charged. Authorities have called the transfer from Juvenile Court "the only reasonable route," noting that Skakel was 40 when he was arrested.
The appeal also contended that prosecutors engaged in misconduct during closing arguments by calling Skakel a "spoiled brat" in an effort to inflame the jury. Further, the appeal criticized the prosecution for presenting a taped interview of Skakel that was played as a projected photo of a smiling Martha Moxley dissolved into a grim crime scene photo. Skakel's attorneys called the audiovisual presentation a "made-for-conviction movie."
Click here for an overview of the entire Marth Moxley murder case
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