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CNN Live Today

In Connecticut, No Testimony Today in Murder Trial of Kennedy Cousin Michael Skakel

Aired May 10, 2002 - 11:30   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.
LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: In Connecticut, no testimony today in the murder trial of Kennedy cousin Michael Skakel. Instead, the court is taking a look at Skakel's former tutor, Ken Littleton.

CNN's Deborah Feyerick has been in the courtroom this morning. She is outside now. She joins us from Norwalk with the very latest.

Good morning, Deb.

DEBORAH FEYERICK, CNN CORRESPNODENT: Good morning, Leon.

You would have thought it would have been a quiet day, but no, that's definitely not the case. There is a lot of tension in the courtroom right now between the prosecutor and Michael Skakel's lawyer. It boils down to this. Did Ken Littleton confess, and under what circumstances did he do it?

Now, what's happening right now is Ken Littleton is on the stand, and he's recalling a conversation that he had with his wife. It is really his wife who told him that he confessed while he was in an alcohol blackout. And again, that's critical.

The question is, is did he actually say the words, "I did it," or was he simply recalling the conversation that he had had with his wife? This was a very sore point with the prosecutors, especially when the defense showed Mr. Littleton a document, a document that the prosecutor did not have immediately available.

So when Mr. Sherman said, you know, do you remember, or did you tell your wife you stabbed Martha Moxley through the neck, Ken Littleton said, "Yes." The prosecutor was very upset by this, because he simply did not have the documents in front of him to object in the proper manner. The judge actually had part of this stricken from the record, and that will make the defense's job. He has to now basically present his direct questioning to Ken Littleton one more time. It is very confusing and a bit convoluted. That is why this is a hearing, and not before the jury just yet. The judge is deciding, is this something that should be allowed into evidence or not. It is possible we may know by the end of the day -- Leon.

HARRIS: Glad you can keep all that stuff straight.

Deborah Feyerick in Norwalk, Connecticut. Thank you very much. Nice job -- Daryn.

KAGAN: That's why we have her on the job.

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