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CNN Live Today

Skakel Trial Gets Underway, Moxley Mother to Testify

Aired May 07, 2002 - 12:09   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.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: After a wait of more than 25 years, a trial began today for the brutal murder of a teenage girl. Martha Moxley beaten to death outside of her home in prosperous Greenwich, Connecticut. That was back in late October 1975. The man on trial, her former neighbor, Michael Skakel, now 41 years ago and a member of the Kennedy family.

The story and the latest, Deborah Feyerick is in Norwalk, Connecticut for us.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DEBORAH FEYERICK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Prosecutors arrived at the courthouse at 8:30 this morning. They say they feel good about their case. They are confident they've got the right guy. Kennedy cousin, Michael Skakel on trial for the murder of Martha Moxley. Now, his lawyer hit the talk shows this morning saying Michael Skakel has never confessed to this murder, not to classmates, not to the family driver. They plan on creating reasonable doubt by pointing to other people long considered suspects in the case.

Now opening statements are likely to be very short. The first witness on the stand will Dorothy Moxley, the mother of the murder victim. She will put a human face on this tragedy. She had two children, one of them brutally taken away. She is likely to set the scene describing the frantic calls at 3:30 in the morning after she discovered Martha was missing. She even rang the Skakel home where she was told that Martha had left at about 9:30 that night saying she had to go home to do homework.

Now when Mrs. Moxley arrived here at the courthouse, she saw a couple of people she knew. She went up to them quickly giving them big joyous hugs. There's a real sense that after 26 long years, they are very close justice.

Deborah Feyerick, CNN, Norwalk, Connecticut.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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