Kennedy relative arraigned on murder charge

Skakel, left, has denied involvement in the death of Moxley, right

Michael Skakel accused in girl's 1975 killing

March 14, 2000
Web posted at: 2:32 p.m. EST (1932 GMT)

STAMFORD, Connecticut (CNN) -- Kennedy family relative Michael Skakel was arraigned Tuesday for the 1975 slaying of Connecticut teen-ager Martha Moxley. Afterward, he approached the victim's mother and told her "You've got the wrong guy."

Skakel has long denied any involvement in the death of his former Greenwich neighbor.

Skakel, a nephew of the late Sen. Robert F. Kennedy, is now 39. But he is being arraigned as a juvenile because he was 15 when Moxley, also 15, was bludgeoned to death with a golf club.

VIDEO CNN's Deborah Feyerick profiles Michael Skakel. (February 8) Real 28K 80K Windows Media 28K 80K   RESOURCES Juvenile proceeding open to media     MESSAGE BOARD Cases in the news Media responsibility

While the public is normally barred from juvenile proceedings, Judge Maureen Dennis agreed to allow news media representatives to attend Skakel's court appearance due to widespread publicity in the case.

Due to that March 10 ruling, Tuesday's arraignment was moved from a juvenile courtroom to Stamford Superior Court.

Skakel's lawyer, Michael Sherman, said his client welcomes the open proceeding so the public can hear Skakel's side of the story.

Prosecution: Golf club was murder weapon

Skakel and Moxley lived across from one another in Belle Haven, an exclusive gated community in Greenwich, an affluent New York suburb.

Martha had been out with Skakel and a group of friends on the night of October 30, 1975, participating in pre-Halloween pranks.

Her body was found the next morning outside her family's home. Prosecutors say the 6-iron used to kill her came from a set of golf clubs owned by the Skakel family.

The unsolved case languished for more than two decades until a judge was named in June 1998 to act as a one-man investigative grand jury. He ruled in January that there was enough evidence to charge Skakel with murder. The Florida resident was then arrested and released on $500,000 bond.

Skakel is the son of Rushton Skakel Sr., who is the brother of Robert F. Kennedy's widow, Ethel.

Arraignment today for Kennedy kin in girl's murder
February 8, 2000
Attorney: Skakel to be arraigned next month
January 20, 2000
Attorney: No evidence to tie Skakel to 1975 killing of girl
January 20, 2000
Kennedy kin free on bond after surrendering in girl's 1975 killing
January 19, 2000

The Martha Moxley Murder
Martha Moxley - The Unsolved Murder

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