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CNN Live Today

Kennedy Babysitter Expected to Testify in Skakel Trial

Aired May 23, 2002 - 12:22   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: In the Martha Moxley murder case, the trial, the Kennedy cousin, Michael Skakel, continues. And on the stand today, former Kennedy family babysitter. Deborah Feyerick to fill in the details now in Norwalk, Connecticut for us this afternoon. Deborah, good afternoon.

DEBORAH FEYERICK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hey, there, Bill. Well, there was a little excitement in the court today, but it had nothing to do with a babysitter, at least not yet. It had everything to do with the jury, specifically what one of the jurors said as he was leaving the court yesterday. It happened during a break, and as they were going to the break room, one of the jurors said something to the effect of, he saw Michael Skakel mouthing the words "good job" to his cousin, who was at that time on the stand.

Now, this happened while it was during the trial, they were being walked out of the courtroom, and a cousin was testifying supporting Michael Skakel's alibi that they had all been together at the time that Martha Moxley was killed, that they were at his house watching television.

Well, the judge asked the juror why he thought this comment was so significant, and the juror said that it was the first time he had seen Michael Skakel say anything. Well, prosecutors have said that's not true. They slammed Michael Skakel for being "unable," in their words, "to control his demeanor." They say that earlier, he has been mouthing obscenities to another witness who was testifying for the prosecution, calling him "a liar."

So what happened this morning, the judge had to bring in the jury, one by one, questioning them as to what they heard. Turns out that it was very isolated, that the two people involved were the man who said it and the woman who heard it. The judge decided to keep both of them on, so right now the jury and the alternates are all staying.

Now, yesterday the witness who testified said that at about 9:30, he and several of the Skakel boys went to his house and they were watching "Monty Python's Flying Circus," and then the boys left at about 11:00. This was a critical period of time, because that's the time that it's believed Martha Moxley may have been killed. Michael Skakel's brother also testified as much, but both of the witnesses, while they could remember things about the alibi, they could not remember things outside of the alibi, for example, how many people had dinner that night. So little things like that. The babysitter is expected to testify, perhaps as early as this afternoon -- Bill.

HEMMER: Deborah, those jurors, they're getting a workout, aren't they?

FEYERICK: They are definitely getting a workout.

HEMMER: (UNINTELLIGIBLE),

FEYERICK: And they can't even take notes throughout this whole thing, so they are going to have a lot to talk about. One juror said that he is just eager to get this on the table and start talking about it. But yeah, they must get up and down at least six, seven times a day. So they are getting exercise, even though (UNINTELLIGIBLE).

HEMMER: That's not counting lunch, I guess.

Listen, the defense right now, how many days do we anticipate right now that their case may take?

FEYERICK: Well, the defense could actually finish their case as early as Tuesday. They have about four days worth of witnesses. Then the prosecution will call rebuttal, and then it is going to go to the jury. So they could start deliberating as early as next Thursday, which means this case could wrap very quickly.

HEMMER: Twenty-six years later. Thank you, Deborah. Deborah Feyerick, again, in Norwalk, Connecticut.

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