In a recent development, Michael Skakel, the Kennedy family cousin convicted of the 1975 murder of Martha Moxley, is suing his Connecticut hometown and investigators for allegedly withholding evidence that could have spared him from serving 11 years in jail. Skakel’s attorney, Stephan Seeger, argues that his client was wrongfully convicted and seeks to hold those responsible accountable.
Skakel, nephew to Robert F. Kennedy’s widow, Ethel Skakel Kennedy, has named the town of Greenwich, the Greenwich Police Department, the Connecticut State Attorney’s Office, and the detective who led the 1975 investigation as defendants in the civil rights case. His attorney claims that Skakel was given 11 and a half years of his life in jail for a murder he didn’t commit, and it’s time for the truth to be heard.
The Connecticut Supreme Court overturned Skakel’s 2002 conviction in 2018, citing his attorney’s failure to present evidence of an alibi. A state prosecutor later announced that Skakel would not be retried and charges against him were dropped. However, Skakel believes that evidence was intentionally withheld from him and his defense team, including composite sketches from an eyewitness that did not resemble him and psychological profiles of other potential suspects.
Martha Moxley was found dead in 1975, and the investigation initially focused on Skakel’s older brother and a live-in tutor for the Skakel family. However, Skakel was later reconsidered as a suspect and arrested in 2000. The lawsuit alleges that crucial evidence, such as lie detector test results and witness interviews, was withheld from Skakel’s defense, potentially pointing to other suspects.
The lawsuit also raises concerns about the lead investigator, Frank Garr, and his alleged bias against Skakel and the Skakel family. It claims that Garr rushed the investigation after another book implicated Skakel as the killer and that he bribed and threatened potential witnesses to secure a conviction.
While Skakel’s conviction has been overturned, Martha Moxley’s murder remains unsolved. Her brother, John Moxley, still believes that Skakel is her killer, stating that his release does not change the truth. Skakel’s lawsuit seeks to shed light on the alleged wrongful prosecution and bring justice to the victims involved.
As this case continues to unfold, it raises important questions about the criminal justice system and the fairness of investigations. The lawsuit highlights the need for transparency and accountability in order to ensure justice is served and innocent individuals are not wrongfully convicted.
