Kennedy cousin Michael Skakel, whose murder conviction was overturned, has filed a lawsuit against the lead police investigator and the town of Greenwich, alleging malicious prosecution, civil rights violations, and other wrongdoing. Skakel, the nephew of Ethel Kennedy, was found guilty in 2002 of the 1975 murder of Martha Moxley when they were both 15 years old. However, the Connecticut Supreme Court overturned the conviction in 2018 due to a failure to present an alibi. Prosecutors announced in 2020 that Skakel would not be retried. The lawsuit claims that the investigator withheld crucial evidence and had a bias against Skakel. The lawsuit seeks unspecified damages over $15,000.
The lawsuit, filed in November, accuses investigator Frank Garr of intentionally withholding key evidence about other potential suspects from Skakel’s defense during the trial. Skakel’s attorney, Stephan Seeger, stated that the lawsuit aims to hold Garr and the town accountable for the wrongful conviction and the years Skakel spent in prison. Seeger emphasized that Skakel endured numerous legal proceedings until the case was finally dismissed.
The lawsuit alleges that the defendants knew there were more likely suspects and lacked probable cause to arrest and prosecute Skakel, but intentionally pursued the case to convict a Kennedy Cousin. According to Skakel’s lawyer, the damages sought in the lawsuit are a result of the violations of Skakel’s constitutional rights, loss of liberty during his time in prison, emotional distress, financial loss, and harm to his reputation and family relationships.
The lawsuit claims that Greenwich police and Garr withheld vital information that could have benefited Skakel’s defense. This included sketches of a potential suspect who did not resemble Skakel, psychological reports on other suspects, and statements from witnesses who saw two other men in Moxley’s neighborhood on the night of her murder, one of whom made incriminating comments. The lawsuit further alleges that Garr had a personal vendetta against Skakel and his family, sought to profit from collaborating on a book about the case, and even threatened witnesses to secure their testimony against Skakel.
Lawyers representing Garr and the town of Greenwich have yet to file their responses to the lawsuit. The Moxley family has consistently maintained their belief that Skakel is responsible for Martha’s murder.
The case garnered widespread international attention not only because of Skakel’s familial connection to the Kennedys but also due to the various theories surrounding Moxley’s murder and the brutal nature of her death. Skakel’s cousin, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., has been one of his most adamant supporters, writing a book asserting Skakel’s innocence and claiming he was framed.
The lawsuit seeks justice for Skakel and highlights the alleged misconduct during the investigation and trial. As the legal proceedings continue, the focus remains on addressing the claims of malicious prosecution and civil rights violations that led to Skakel’s overturned conviction.
