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Kennedy relative takes murder appeal to high court
Reuters ^ | March 21, 2006 | Reuters

Posted on 03/21/2006 1:57:51 PM PST by libstripper

BOSTON (Reuters) - Kennedy relative Michael Skakel will appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court in a bid to overturn his conviction in the 1975 murder of his 15-year-old neighbor Martha Moxley, his lawyer said on Tuesday.

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Skakel, now 45, was convicted in 2002 of bludgeoning Moxley to death with one of his mother's golf clubs and was sentenced to 20 years to life in prison.

In January, Skakel, 15 at the time of the murder, lost an appeal of that decision to the Connecticut Supreme Court. Skakel's lawyers filed a motion on February 14 asking the court to review its decision, but this was denied.

Skakel's lawyers have argued the state's five-year statute of limitations had expired when the relative of the Kennedy political family was charged in 2000 with the murder, committed 25 years earlier.

(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: kennedys; michaelskakel; moxleymurder
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Justice may finally be done in this case in spite of the Kennedys. Kudos to Mark Furhman and everyone else who brought this about.
1 posted on 03/21/2006 1:57:53 PM PST by libstripper
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To: libstripper

...and when he gets turned down, it will all be Bush's fault.


2 posted on 03/21/2006 1:59:15 PM PST by sissyjane (Don't be stuck on stupid!)
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To: libstripper

When does Mary Jo Kopechne get justice?


3 posted on 03/21/2006 2:02:00 PM PST by pleikumud
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To: libstripper
I didn't think there was any statute of limitations on murder? I hope they let his conviction stand. The Kennedys make me sick! I guess just because Teddy got away with murder, this nut case thinks he should too.
4 posted on 03/21/2006 2:04:39 PM PST by NRA2BFree
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To: libstripper
I thought there was no statute of limitations where murder is concerned.
5 posted on 03/21/2006 2:05:05 PM PST by Tony O (hibobbi!)
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To: pleikumud
When does Mary Jo Kopechne get justice?

Evidence included testimony by a former classmate who said Skakel had boasted three years after the murder he would get away with it, "because I'm a Kennedy."

Well there you go, the Kennedy clan think that they are exempt from murder convictions.

6 posted on 03/21/2006 2:08:34 PM PST by notpoliticallycorewrecked (God bless our military)
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To: Tony O

There would have to be, or so many could actually "get away with murder"


7 posted on 03/21/2006 2:09:22 PM PST by just me
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To: Tony O

there are no statutes of limitations for little people.
for Kennedy relatives it's 5 years.

Kennedys have statues of irritations. included among them
are statues of Buicks,blondes,prosecutors,indictments, and
nearly empty bottles of whisky.


8 posted on 03/21/2006 2:10:06 PM PST by Rakkasan1 (Muslims pray to Allah, Allah prays to Chuck Norris.)
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To: just me

Oops that didn't make sense... I meant there is no time limit..


9 posted on 03/21/2006 2:11:09 PM PST by just me
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To: libstripper
I am not terribly fond of the Kennedy's myself (see tagline) but this guy had an interesting argument that was not allowed at trial. He said that, since the crime was commited when he was a juvenile he should have been tried as a juvenile and subject only to the penalties a juvenile would face.

That is clearly not justice but it might be the law.

10 posted on 03/21/2006 2:13:53 PM PST by muir_redwoods (Free Sirhan Sirhan, after all, the bastard who killed Mary Jo Kopechne is walking around free)
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To: muir_redwoods

It's an interesting argument if you ignore the context of what happened. Once he murdered Martha Moxley he and his entire family massively obstructed justice to prevent the very juvenile trial he now says he was somehow entitled to. I have no legal or other sympathy for him since his current predicament is the direct result of his, and his family's, earlier obstruction of justice.


11 posted on 03/21/2006 2:19:07 PM PST by libstripper
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To: libstripper
Stay away from the Kennedys......

Joe Sr. made a deal with Satan in 1929 and the outcome has been murder, rape and perversion.

12 posted on 03/21/2006 2:30:11 PM PST by CROSSHIGHWAYMAN (Toon Town, Iran...........where reality is the real fantasy.)
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To: libstripper

They could always try to make a deal so either Judge Cashman or Connor could handle the case. Then this guy wouldn't have to worry about jail because they don't believe in it.


13 posted on 03/21/2006 2:33:11 PM PST by MadAnthony1776 ("liberalism" = "do as I say, not as I do")
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To: libstripper; muir_redwoods

In essence Skakel's family, by obstructing justice at the time, escalated the case, and rightly so. This isn't the first time you've heard the "pay now or REALLY pay later" scenario. Anybody who's ever been in Traffic court has seen a few hapless fools who put off their dealings with the Law until their fines were enormous and/or an arrest warrant was issued. In fact, a key component of our legal system is the mechanism that makes failure to address one's obligations to the Law into an expensive venture. The whole idea is to push people to take care of it right up front. It may not be cheap, but it is certainly cheaper than it will be in a month or two when they haul you in on a warrant.

Skakel and his family of accomplices-after-the-fact [a point which I'd attempt to prosecute vigorously] have put the case off for far to long and I am entirely unsympathetic to their protests about the escalation of penalties.

Maybe a few more esclations are in order:
Five years' delay in a murder case automatically allows the jury to recommend a death sentence.
Ten years' delay carries a mandatory sentencing recommendation of death.


14 posted on 03/21/2006 2:33:32 PM PST by HKMk23 (We keep you alive to serve this ship. Row well, and live.)
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To: libstripper

My money says the Supremes won't even be tempted to hear this appeal. Skakel should rot in prison.


15 posted on 03/21/2006 2:35:36 PM PST by demkicker (democrats and terrorists are familiar bedfellows)
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To: libstripper

Thank God I have a family name to love and be proud of.


16 posted on 03/21/2006 2:42:52 PM PST by cubreporter (I trust Rush. He has done more for this country than we will ever know. Thanks, Rush!)
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To: libstripper

I didn't think there was a statue of limitations when it comes to murder, even in Mass......


17 posted on 03/21/2006 3:39:53 PM PST by SkyDancer ("Talent Without Ambition is Sad, Ambition Without Talent Is Worse")
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To: libstripper

Is he currently serving time now?


18 posted on 03/21/2006 3:42:27 PM PST by Lx (Do you like it, do you like it. Scott? I call it Mr. and Mrs. Tennerman chili.)
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To: SkyDancer

They could put all the Kennedy's in the jailhouse and throw away the keys and that would drop the crime rate in atleast 4 states!


19 posted on 03/21/2006 3:43:18 PM PST by princess leah
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To: libstripper

The Kennedy's have enough money to keep this case in court forever.


20 posted on 03/21/2006 3:49:06 PM PST by R.W.Ratikal
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