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CNN Live Saturday

Witness Dead in Skakel Trial

Aired August 11, 2001 - 16:06   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.
DONNA KELLEY, CNN ANCHOR: A new legal twist in the high-profile murder case against Kennedy nephew, Michael Skakel. A key prosecution witness is dead. CNN's Brian Palmer explains how this complicates matters for both sides.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BRIAN PALMER, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): According to 39- year-old Gray Coleman, Michael Skakel confessed to killing 15-year-old Martha Moxley. He told this to a grand jury investigating the October, 1975 murder last year. Skakel, the nephew of Ethyl Kennedy was charged with Moxley's murder in January, 2000.

Coleman dropped other bombshell in April of this year at a Connecticut hearing. He admitted to taking Heroin less than an hour before testifying to Michael Skakel's alleged guilt. Coleman, a classmate of Skakel's at the Elan School for Troubled Teens, won't be able to make she's charges again, if and when the case goes to trial. Greg Coleman died August 7 in Rochester, New York, apparently from a dose of tainted heroin.

JOHN MOXLEY: I don't think this will hurt the case because Greg Coleman was not the only person at Elan who is going to testify that Michael Skakel told them that he murdered my sister, he murdered Martha.

PALMER: The prosecution may still be able to use Coleman's previous testimony, a move the defense may protest because it says Skakel will not be able to confront his accuser.

MICKEY SHERMAN, MICHAEL SKAKEL'S ATTORNEY: If they are allowed to use just the paper, the transcript, of the comments that Gregory Coleman made without the benefit of some fresh cross examination, and complete cross examination, that is not a good thing.

STANLEY TWARDY, FORMER U.S. ATTORNEY: The problem they are going to have in keeping the testimony out is that Mr. Skakel's attorney, Mickey Sherman, had the opportunity had the opportunity to cross Coleman in the probable cause here.

PALMER: The case, the state of Connecticut versus Michael Skakel, continues to grind forward slowly. The superior court has scheduled a hearing on pretrial motions and pleadings for August 15. In a case that has been open for 25 years. Brian Palmer, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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