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CNN Live Event/Special

Attorney for Michael Skakel Holds News Conference

Aired August 15, 2001 - 12:23   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.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Now we want to listen into Mickey Sherman. He is the defense attorney for Michael Skakel, the Kennedy cousin who's accused of murdering Martha Moxley in 1975.

(JOINED IN PROGRESS)

MICKEY SHERMAN, SKAKEL ATTORNEY: ... most of the motions were granted with amendments. That's just the nature of the way these proceedings go.

(CROSSTALK)

QUESTION: ... garden variety murder?

SHERMAN: I'm sorry?

QUESTION: How does the defense define a garden variety murder?

SHERMAN: How does the find or...

QUESTION: Define.

SHERMAN: Define a garden variety murder? I don't, I can't figure out that question. A murder is a murder.

QUESTION: Was there specific exculpatory evidence today that the judge, any of the judge's decisions ruled out that would have helped you?

SHERMAN: Who knows? Who knows? If I'm not getting the information, who can tell whether or not it's going to help. I think the judge did his best to find what he felt was a reasonable compromise in what we're entitled to and maybe reaching a little bit beyond what we're entitled to, to give us a fair shake here. I have no complaint. Yes?

(CROSSTALK)

QUESTION: ... the motion to dismiss any chance realistically in all your experience?

SHERMAN: Yes, there's always a chance. There's always a chance. But by the same token, I've always been prepared to try this case. That's why we never asked for a stay of these proceedings while, in fact, we were going through this process. So I just want to be ready, you know, to go at any moment.

(CROSSTALK)

QUESTION: ... the judge isn't going to rule today? I mean today was his opportunity to possibly have all these charges dismissed and the judge ruled on many of the other motions but not on that one.

SHERMAN: The question is was Michael Skakel frustrated that the judge did not rule on the motion to dismiss today. He never assumed, nor did I, that Judge Kavanewsky would rule on this motion today. It's just not the nature of these proceedings. So, no, he wasn't frustrated. And, you know, he's patient with the proceedings. It's been 26 years. He'll wait a few more months.

QUESTION: Given the judge's reputation for efficiency, do you expect a decision sooner rather than later?

SHERMAN: I do expect a decision sooner than later. This judge is a very no nonsense judge, as you can see, who does things the way he perceives them, the way they should be done. And you may recall when I asked him if he was going to be the judge in this case I was really happy about that. And it's not that I'm trying to score extra points by kissing up, which I probably am, but he's a guy who just takes things as they come and he'll decide it when it's appropriate, and it will be within a reasonable time.

(CROSSTALK)

QUESTION: Several times Michael looked back in a way that he hadn't looked at other times in the trial, looked back at the Moxley's row, he seemed to be looking at them. Do you have any idea what that was about?

SHERMAN: No. I didn't see him looking at anything. I think maybe we're, we might be micro scrutinizing his behavior a little bit. He could have been looking at anything. No, I can tell you this, he has -- bears no ill will towards anyone in the Moxley family or anyone on the prosecution team.

Yes?

QUESTION: Do you know if anybody (UNINTELLIGIBLE)?

SHERMAN: No. The question is do I know if any, for sure if anybody on the prosecution team has a book deal? No. I've had some information related to me and that's why I made the motion. But I'm not going to start naming names or casting stones. I take John Benedict at his word. He's an extraordinarily truthful person and if he says there's no book deal, then maybe there's no book deal.

KAGAN: We've been listening to Mickey Sherman from Stanford, Connecticut. Mickey Sherman represents Kennedy cousin Michael Skakel, who stands accused of the 1975 murder of Martha Moxley. Mickey Sherman today in court trying to get those charges dismissed. The judge in the case will make a decision later.

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