Michael Skakel murder case: Connecticut court reinstates conviction

CNN ^ | December 30, 2016 | By Steve Almasy and Ellie Kaufman

[Brad from Tennessee]

(CNN)Michael Skakel could be headed back to prison after the Connecticut Supreme Court on Friday reinstated his conviction in the 1975 murder of a 15-year-old neighbor. Skakel, the 56-year-old nephew of Robert and Ethel Kennedy, had spent more than a decade in prison for the killing of Martha Moxley until a judge in 2013 decided he did not receive adequate representation in his trial and ordered a new one.

On Friday, after Skakel had been free for three years, the state's high court overruled the decision.

"Because we conclude that the petitioner's trial counsel rendered constitutionally adequate representation, we reverse the judgment of the habeas court and remand the case to that court with direction to render judgment denying the petition," the state's high court said in its decision. . .

[Bullish]

pick him up and lock him up. The little bastard has gotten away with this for far too long.

[onyx]

G U I L T Y

[nopardons]

He committed that murder, he is guilty a sin, and should NEVER have been freed! Let him rot in jail forever!!!!!!!!!!!!

[A_Former_Democrat]

LOCK HIM UP

And take the rest of the Kennedys with him

[ARGLOCKGUY]

I hope he is locked away for teh rest of his life.

[867V309]

nothin’ like the sweet smell of a skank kennedy goin’ to prison

[Chode]

and the RATS, take another one in the.........HA ha!!!

[cherry]

our system of justice is such a joke...granted, I think Skank is good for the crime, but where is the finality in judgments?....three yrs out and now they tell him he has to go do more...????

as long as the law remains the ping pong ball among the lawsters, the "justice system" is a joke...

[seamusnh]

Another Kennedy scumbag getting what he deserves.... Thank you, Lord

[Wally_Kalbacken]

I remember when the original criminal trial was just starting. There was a huge media buildup, and on one morning program (GMA, I think) Mickey Sherman was on with his son, who had just been admitted the bar. It was jokes and all sorts of overconfidence on the part of Sherman. I don't know that he blew Skakel's defense, but it was at least arguable to get to this. It's always a bad sign when your criminal defense lawyer is more interested in his media image than keeping your a$$ out of state prison.

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

where is the finality in judgments?....three yrs out and now they tell him he has to go do more...????

He was improperly released based on his family connections.

So because a judge took a bribe we should let him run free?

[Chode]

Amen...

[dp0622]

I had a dream last night I was convicted of something and the judge was about to hand down the sentence when I woke up, heart palpitating. Odd.

As for this case, I find it so odd when a person kills another so brutally and doesn’t do it again for decades.

It would seem once you have the capacity, it would be bound to happen again.

[Nifster]

Good.

[Bullish]

I find it so odd when a person kills another so brutally and doesn’t do it again for decades.

Not necessarily. He had his trial and he was convicted, now it's time for him to do his time.

[PGalt]

GRRRRRREAT news! Thanks for posting.

[arthurus]

I am surprised Skakel is still in the country. His family surely can afford to send him to somewhere with no extradition treaty.

[dp0622]

Obviously not. I’ve seen tv shows where escaped murderers lived a normal life for 10, 20 or more years before being apprehended.

I dont know anybody who stole ONCE, assaulted someone ONCE, lent money at loan shark rates ONCE, deal narcotics ONCE.

Seems strange to kill someone and then stop.

Anyway, back to prison he goes.

[KosmicKitty]

The reason for the overturn of the conviction was Skakel’s claim that Sherman did not mount a satisfactory defense because Sherman should have pushed the possibility of Skakel’s older brother being the real murderer, not just the live-in tutor.

Nice family relations there. The Supreme Court of CT saw through the farce.