Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Live Today

Defense Expected to Wrap Up Case Today in Skakel Trial

Aired May 28, 2002 - 11:31   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.
KRIS OSBORN, CNN ANCHOR: The defense is expected to wrap up its case, perhaps today, in the murder trial of Kennedy cousin Michael Skakel.

CNN's Deborah Feyerick is at the courthouse. She's been covering this for a while now.

Deborah, how is it going today?

DEBORAH FEYERICK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Kris, the first person on the stand today was a bank manager, the man who pointed police inspectors to a Skakel family chauffeur. You may remember that the chauffeur was the one who said Michael Skakel had said he had done something very bad and either had to kill himself or get out of the country. It turns out the chauffeur never initially contacted police himself. It was this bank manager who had heard this story and felt that it was important enough to go to the police. So basically he called up inspectors and said have you to speak to this guy. This guy said, Michael apparently confessed to the murder of Martha Moxley.

In the actual police report, it doesn't say there was a bona fide confession, the inspector noted that Michael Skakel all but confessed.

Also on the stand right now is John Skakel, one of Michael Skakel's brothers. He's about two years older than him. He no longer has a clear recollection of what happened that night. Apparently, he was one of the people in the car driving a cousin home. This is Michael Skakel's alibi, that he was miles away when Martha Moxley was killed. But John Moxley could not remember exactly who was in the car, saying, you know, please rely on the earlier police report, because I don't know. He could also not recall whether, in fact, the Skakel family had a pow-wow of some sort before speaking to police. He could not remember any of those details.

Joining me is Fannie Weinstein, who is with "People" magazine, and you have covered this trial. We want to talk a little about Michael Skakel. Who is he? There are two sides really of Michael Skakel.

FANNIE WEINSTEIN, "PEOPLE" MAGAZINE: Yes, one source even described him as sort of a Jekyll and Hyde character to us. People who knew him as far back as his Elon days, and people who know him today, and have meet him since he has grown up said the Michael Skakel they know could not have committed this crime. One even said they had never even seen a hint of violence in him. They described him as a very devoted father, too. They say the 3-year-old son is the center of his life. They just say he could not have done it.

At the same time, there is the other side of Michael Skakel. He has always had something of a temper. By his own admission, he was an alcoholic at age 12. He is since sober, but he drank a lot. You hear all different kinds of stories. One source told us that as a child he used to shoot animals with a pellet gun, but then the other side of him was the side that would take his friends -- and Skakel was obviously very wealthy -- would take his friends to sporting good stores and buy them equipment and other things. So there was a generous side, too. So you really this real dichotomy.

FEYERICK: The defense is going to be closing, perhaps as early as today. What do you think has been the strongest elements of their case so far?

WEINSTEIN: Well, the defense, you have you a couple of things. One is, they have successfully, I think, countered that the prosecution witnesses who testified about Elon. The Elon witnesses testified that Michael Skakel confessed to having murdered Moxley. But the defense was able to put on its own witnesses, who said in fact that he hadn't.

You also have Rush Skakel Jr., Michael's brother, testifying that he indeed was in the car that went to his cousin's house, and his cousin testified that as well. I think they have done a good job of countering the prosecution's evidence and testimony.

FEYERICK: And the prosecution, in your opinion, do they have anything in the bag as far as persuading this jury?

WEINSTEIN: I think so. They did a good job of establishing motive. They established that Michael was jealous of his brother, Tommy's relationship with Martha Moxley, that he add crush on her, and that she apparently wasn't returning the feelings, or didn't have the same sorts of feelings, and they introduced opportunity, which is key also.

One prosecution witness did testify that Michael, in fact,did not go to the Terian's (ph) house that night. He was not in the car, and that she saw him at the Skakel home around the time the police believe the murder may have taken place.

FEYERICK: Ten seconds or less, does the jury have enough to convict?

WEINSTEIN: It's a hard call. I'd say we'd have to wait and see. Closing arguments will be very important.

FEYERICK: All right, Fannie Weinstein from "People" magazine.

So, Kris, again, the defense could wrap up their case by this afternoon, and then they'll be rebuttal witnesses. Again, this is all fluid, could stretch a little longer.

Back to you, Kris.

OSBORN: Deborah Feyerick, live in Norwalk, Connecticut.

Thank you very much for bringing us the latest on this trial that so many are paying attention to.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com