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Skakel Alibi Is Cast In Doubt Witness Says Defendant Was At Home Near Time Of Killing
The Hartford Courant ^ | 10 May 02 | Lynne Tuohy

Posted on 05/10/2002 5:18:52 AM PDT by LoneGOPinCT

Edited on 09/03/2002 4:50:27 AM PDT by Jim Robinson. [history]

NORWALK -- A witness's harrowing tale of a barking dog frozen in place with fear made a compelling case Thursday for pinpointing when Martha Moxley was killed. It matched up with the narrow time frame that lawyers for Michael Skakel very much want the jury to embrace, to bolster Skakel's alibi that he was miles from his home when his 15-year-old friend was bludgeoned to death.

Then, with the kind of dramatic turn that trials take at unexpected moments, a woman took the stand and potentially shattered that alibi with a single word.


(Excerpt) Read more at ctnow.com ...


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; News/Current Events; US: Connecticut
KEYWORDS: kennedy; moxley; skakel
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It's getting interesting!
1 posted on 05/10/2002 5:18:53 AM PDT by LoneGOPinCT
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To: LoneGOPinCT
My understanding of this case, from someone who was fairly intimately involved in it, is that Skakel is as guilty as OJ in this case. The real issue here is whether it can be proven in a court of law, and the fact that the crime occurred in 1975 makes it a difficult case to prove.
2 posted on 05/10/2002 5:36:19 AM PDT by Alberta's Child
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To: Alberta's Child
The real issue here is whether it can be proven in a court of law, and the fact that the crime occurred in 1975 makes it a difficult case to prove.

That's pretty much how I see it. I don't see how the prosecution will be able to convince the jury that he did it after such a long period of time.

3 posted on 05/10/2002 5:53:47 AM PDT by LoneGOPinCT
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To: LoneGOPinCT
This may be one of those situations where the jurors should be given a thorough, detailed glimpse into Skakel's private life, just to do the rest of society a favor.

"We may not be able to prove his guilt beyond a reasonable doubt -- but as you can see, this man is such a screwball that we would all be better served with him in prison."

4 posted on 05/10/2002 6:01:34 AM PDT by Alberta's Child
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To: 2Trievers; LurkedLongEnough; MeeknMing; celtic gal
"We're the only ones interested" Bump
5 posted on 05/10/2002 6:01:43 AM PDT by LoneGOPinCT
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To: LoneGOPinCT
Mark Furman's book is very thorough in covering this case, and his conclusion, based on evidence he found, about Skakel's guilt is very convincing.
6 posted on 05/10/2002 6:07:01 AM PDT by Carolinamom
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To: Carolinamom
Mark Furman's book is very thorough in covering this case, and his conclusion, based on evidence he found, about Skakel's guilt is very convincing.

That's what I've heard. I've got to get a copy and read it myself! But Furman may have made a derogatory comment about a Kennedy in his past, so Skakel has to be innocent ;^)

7 posted on 05/10/2002 6:20:43 AM PDT by LoneGOPinCT
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To: LoneGOPinCT
Saw a similar story on the Renna testimony in Greenwich Time this morning, but fewer details. I don't know anyone here who doesn't think Skakel guilty as hell, but many lawyers in town are betting on Mickey Sherman and the Kennedy mystique to get him off. No one's happy about it.
8 posted on 05/10/2002 6:28:45 AM PDT by CatoRenasci
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To: LoneGOPinCT
Who's On The Stand
May 10, 2002


James Lunney
Retired Greenwich police detective

Lunney visited the Skakel house in the hours after Martha Moxley's body was discovered, and he noticed a club similar to the murder weapon. He testified that Rushton Skakel Sr. voluntarily turned over the club the next day. In the weeks following the killing, Lunney testified, Greenwich police were given access to the home and were never denied access to the Skakel children.

Helen Ix Fitzpatrick
Friend and neighbor of Martha Moxley and the Skakel family

Fitzpatrick, whose family remains so close to the Skakel family that she calls its patriarch "Uncle Rush," testified that Martha and Tommy Skakel were flirting outside the Skakel house when she left minutes before 9:30 p.m. on Oct. 30, 1975. She also testified that her dog began barking in a sustained and agitated manner about 9:45 and wouldn't come when called. The dog instead stood in the middle of the road, facing the Moxley residence, and barked for 15 or 20 minutes. "He was kind of frozen in the road. He wouldn't go any further," she said.

Jackie Wetenhall O'Hara
Friend and neighbor of Martha Moxley and the Skakel brothers

Read excerpts from Martha Moxley's diary that documented some of the exploits of both teenage girls in the weeks before Martha's killing, including several involving Tommy and Michael Skakel. Defense attorney Mickey Sherman asked her if any of those events led her to believe that someone was going to get murdered. "No," she replied.

Andrea Shakespeare Renna
Friend of Michael Skakel's older sister, Julie

Testified that Michael did not leave with some of his brothers to drive cousin Jimmy Terrien home the night that Moxley was killed. Renna also testified that the next day - after Martha's body had been found and she and Julie had been summoned home from school - Michael approached their car. "He said Martha had been killed, and he and Tommy were the last to see Martha that night."

Kenneth Littleton
Former tutor for the Skakel children

Littleton, who began his first day as tutor and baby sitter to the Skakel children the same day that Martha was last seen alive, testified that he never met or saw Martha. He testified that he settled in at the Skakel house to watch the movie "The French Connection" at 9 p.m., and was joined briefly by Tommy Skakel for the chase scene about 10 p.m. "He was perfectly composed and not agitated," Littleton testified. Although no one had told Littleton that a weekend trip to Windham, N.Y., had been planned, he was directed the next afternoon to take Tommy, Michael and John Skakel and Jimmy Terrien to the Skakel family's ski house for the weekend. Sherman has yet to cross-examine Littleton.

- LYNNE TUOHY
The Hartford Courant

9 posted on 05/10/2002 6:28:49 AM PDT by 2Trievers
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To: LoneGOPinCT
Thanks for posting this Lone. I was up at 3 AM and the LAZY Courant doesn't have it's news up until 5 or 6 AM. I'm on my way to the 'hood by then! &;-)
10 posted on 05/10/2002 6:30:21 AM PDT by 2Trievers
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To: LoneGOPinCT; 2Trievers
"We're the only ones interested"

Oh, I wouldn't say that....... : )

11 posted on 05/10/2002 6:34:29 AM PDT by Inge_CAV
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To: Inge_CAV
Hey CAV ... we New Englanders will solve our own Kennedy mysteries ... cough! cough! choke! &;-) (Welcome aboard hugs, 2T)
12 posted on 05/10/2002 6:41:57 AM PDT by 2Trievers
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To: LoneGOPinCT
When I see jurors on TV dicussing a case after there decision it always seems that "a reasonable doubt" has been streched to the point where the jurors seem to think that if there was any possibility the defendant didn't do it the vote to acquit. Another difficulty in getting a conviction seems to be that so much evidence is excluded, such as prior convictions or arrests for similar crimes etc....
13 posted on 05/10/2002 6:49:16 AM PDT by KSCITYBOY
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To: CatoRenasci
I don't know anyone here who doesn't think Skakel guilty as hell, but many lawyers in town are betting on Mickey Sherman and the Kennedy mystique to get him off.

If I were a betting man, I'd bet the wad that he walks.

14 posted on 05/10/2002 7:01:43 AM PDT by LoneGOPinCT
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To: 2Trievers
I was up at 3 AM and the LAZY Courant doesn't have it's news up until 5 or 6 AM.

What are you trying to say about such a fine operation?.......BARF

15 posted on 05/10/2002 7:08:04 AM PDT by LoneGOPinCT
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To: Inge_CAV
Oh, I wouldn't say that....... : )

That's good to see that there are more than 3 or 4 of us!

And thanks again for the package. Should be interesting how those southerners work out in yankee soil with yankees surrounding them. But hey, we're not all bad, 'specially us swamp yankees! :^)

16 posted on 05/10/2002 7:28:35 AM PDT by LoneGOPinCT
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To: KSCITYBOY
When I see jurors on TV dicussing a case after there decision it always seems that "a reasonable doubt" has been streched to the point where the jurors seem to think that if there was any possibility the defendant didn't do it the vote to acquit.

I agree. "Reasonable" has been replaced by "Any Whatsoever".

17 posted on 05/10/2002 7:31:02 AM PDT by LoneGOPinCT
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To: LoneGOPinCT; 2Trievers
"That's good to see that there are more than 3 or 4 of us!"

It will be interesting to see how this plays out.

Thank you and 2Trievers for my package too. It Finally started raining here and no signs of letting up yet. Also looks like it will be another bumper crop of hay and the barn is still half full with hay from last year. : )

18 posted on 05/10/2002 7:45:34 AM PDT by Inge_CAV
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To: 2Trievers
Thanks for posting this Lone. I was up at 3 AM and the LAZY Courant doesn't have it's news up until 5 or 6 AM.

And that's about the only way I can beat you to a post!

19 posted on 05/10/2002 7:46:19 AM PDT by LoneGOPinCT
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To: Inge_CAV
It Finally started raining here and no signs of letting up yet.

Lucky you! We can't seem to catch a break with the rain. Every system goes either to the north or south of us. We're still about a foot short of normal since last September and it's only a matter of time before the water bans come out if nothing changes in the near future. It's been good for boating and cookouts though!

20 posted on 05/10/2002 7:55:24 AM PDT by LoneGOPinCT
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