Return to Transcripts main page
CNN Live Today
Michael Skakel Goes on Trial This Morning in Connecticut
Aired May 07, 2002 - 11:42 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Now, we want to pick up with the Skakel trial. Ethel Kennedy's nephew, Michael Skakel, went on trial this morning in Connecticut. He is charged with killing his neighbor, Martha Moxley, in 1957, when both were teenagers.
Fannie Weinstein is covering the trial for "People" magazine, and she joins us from the courthouse in Norwalk, Connecticut.
Fanny, good morning. Good to have you with us.
FANNY WEINSTEIN, "PEOPLE" MAGAZINE: Good morning.
KAGAN: Answer me one question, take away the Kennedy connection to this case, and does "People" magazine cover it?
WEINSTEIN: Oh, I think so. We're looking at a case that basically went unsolved from the prosecution's point of view for really 27 years. We've got a very compelling victim's family. It's been a long time coming for the Moxleys, so I think there are a lot of compelling aspects.
But certainly, the Kennedy factor adds a great deal to this case.
KAGAN: One of the compelling characters has to be Martha Moxley's mother, Dorothy, who is expected to be one of the first witnesses. This is a woman who would just not give up. She was determined to see justice for whoever killed her daughter 26 years ago.
WEINSTEIN: Yes. Actually she was the first witness called. She took the stand after opening arguments, at about 11:00 this morning. She is still on the stand now. She is a very compelling witness. She is, as you said, someone who has fought to see the man, she believes, killed her daughter brought to justice. And she is up there telling her story now.
At the same time, you know, she will be cross-examined. But we expect Mickey Sherman will probably really treat her with kid gloves. I don't think right after the bat, he wants to come across as sort of attacking the victim's mother.
KAGAN: Mickey Sherman, of course, being the attorney for Michael Skakel. So this is vindication to have this day happen for the Moxley family. But a lot of difficulties for this case, Fannie. At least two key witnesses dying since the murder. You have the passage of time. And also evidence that simply has been lost. This is not an easy case for the prosecution.
WEINSTEIN: No, it's not. There is very little physical, really no physical evidence linking Michael Skakel to the crime. It's really circumstantial evidence. And a lot of it is what we're calling ear witness testimony, people who say, Michael Skakel confessed to the crime. And this was really what these confessions, alleged confessions, are what the prosecution highlighted in its opening arguments.
KAGAN: Is it possible there will be words from the grave? I'm thinking of the previous deposition of Gregory Coleman. He was someone who went to boarding school with Michael Skakel, but when he was on the stand giving what appeared to give good witness testimony for the prosecution, admitted later he had actually used heroin before that, and then later died from using tainted heroin.
WEINSTEIN: Right, there is a chance that -- the judge has yet to rule on a defense motion, seeking to have the prosecution barred from introducing a transcript of Coleman's testimony into evidence. But the judge, as I said, is yet to rule on that. But yes, if that transcript is introduced, it will essentially, have Coleman testifying from the grave, you're right.
KAGAN: And one of the potential witnesses that really got my attention, the former Kennedy baby sitter, the young woman who had that affair with Michael Kennedy, a different Kennedy. She is on the witness list for both the defense and prosecution. Yes this is a young woman who wouldn't have even been alive when Martha Moxley was killed.
WEINSTEIN: Right. But she became very close to Michael Skakel while Michael Skakel was working with the late Michael Kennedy. Michael Skakel in his -- the proposal to a book he was proposing to write, which he never did, talked about how he helped get her therapy and helped her in other ways. She is expected possibly to testify as a character witness for the defense.
KAGAN: Got It.
Fannie Weinstein from "People" magazine. We will look for more of your coverage in the weeks ahead. Thank you so much.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
