Michael Skakel Files Another Appeal

The Kennedy family cousin who was convicted in 2002 of the murder of 15-year-old Martha Moxley in 1975 has filed another appeal for a new trial. This appeal is based on Michael Skakel's attorneys not being given two items of evidence prior to his criminal trial.

Skakel is serving 20 years to life in prison for the murder.

His attorneys claim that they only recently learned of a report from Greenwich police that implicated another suspect in the case. They also only recently learned of statements by a lawyer who said a key witness against Skakel had a history of drug abuse and lying.

In the appeal, Skakel's attorneys claim that Madison police forwarded to Greenwich police a letter from the sister of a mentally ill man that claimed her brother accused another man of killing Moxley. The attorneys argued that they should have been given a copy of that letter.

Witness a Known Liar?

The appeal also claims that the prosecution was told by his former attorney that one of their key witnesses against Skakel, Gregory Coleman, was an "incorrigible drug addict who would routinely lie in order to get money for drugs."

The attorneys said they only heard about that statement two months ago.

Skakel has filed several appeals since his 2002 conviction. Thus far, they have all been denied. The state Supreme Court upheld his conviction in January 2006, rejecting all of the defense claims. The U.S. Supreme Court refused to hear the appeal of that ruling.

See Also:
Kennedy Cousin Skakel Claims Key Evidence Withheld

Background:
The Appeals of Michael Skakel
Profile of Michael Skakel

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