Kennedy relative Michael Skakel asks Connecticut high court to reconsider appeal rejection

Kennedy relative asks court to reconsider ruling

NEW HAVEN, Conn. — Kennedy cousin Michael Skakel has asked the Connecticut Supreme Court to reconsider its rejection of an appeal of his conviction for the 1975 killing of his 15-year-old neighbor.

The high court ruled 4-1 on April 12 against Skakel’s bid for a new trial, saying a claim implicating two other men in the killing was not credible.

Skakel — a nephew of Robert Kennedy’s widow, Ethel — was sentenced to 20 years to life in prison in 2002 for fatally beating Martha Moxley with a golf club in wealthy Greenwich.

Skakel wants all seven justices to reconsider the case.

“One justice of this Connecticut Supreme Court has already announced that if Michael Skakel were granted a new trial, he would likely be found not guilty,” Skakel’s attorneys wrote. “The interests of justice demand that the full panel determine whether he should be given that opportunity so that justice can finally be served in this case.”

Skakel argues the claim implicating two other men in the killing was credible enough to affect the verdict, especially when compared to testimony at the trial. He cites the dissenting opinion by Justice Richard Palmer, who called the state’s case weak.

Skakel also cites concerns raised by Palmer and the majority of the high court over a lead investigator’s book about the case with a former Newsday reporter. Skakel’s attorneys say the book shows bias by the investigator, Frank Garr, against Skakel. But Garr has said he did not get involved in the book until after the verdict and denied any misconduct.

Prosecutor Susann Gill said she would respond to the reconsideration request in court within 10 days.