Kennedy Cousin Michael Skakel Files Lawsuit Against Town of Greenwich and Lead Investigator
Michael Skakel, the Kennedy cousin who spent over a decade in prison for the 1975 murder of his teenage neighbor, Martha Moxley, has filed a lawsuit against the town of Greenwich and its lead police investigator, Frank Garr. Skakel alleges that he was the victim of a targeted attack by investigators who pinned the murder on him for their own personal and financial gain. Skakel, the nephew of Robert F. Kennedy's widow, Ethel Kennedy, was convicted of Moxley's murder in 2002 and sentenced to 20 years to life in prison. However, his conviction was overturned in 2013 on procedural grounds, and in 2018, the state Supreme Court found that his trial lawyer had failed to adequately represent him.
Skakel's lawyer, Stephan Seeger, argues that the damage has already been done, stating, "Michael spent over 11 years in jail for a crime he didn't commit. The time and the relationships - his life as he knew it - cannot be returned to him." Seeger describes the lawsuit as a "civil rights case" that aims to expose new details that had not previously come to light due to the sensationalized nature of the case.
The lawsuit alleges that investigator Frank Garr withheld crucial evidence about other potential suspects from Skakel's trial defense. It claims that the defendants knowingly arrested and prosecuted Skakel, despite knowing that there were more likely suspects and lacking probable cause. The suit further alleges that Garr had a personal vendetta against Skakel and his family and threatened witnesses who could have undermined his narrative.
Skakel, who was 15 years old at the time of the murder, has maintained his innocence, stating that he was watching a “Monty Python” TV show with others when Moxley was killed. At his trial, prosecutors suggested that Skakel was angry with Moxley because she rejected his advances and became involved with his brother, Tommy. Skakel's appellate lawyers later argued that his trial attorney made poor decisions, including not focusing on Tommy as a possible suspect and failing to contact an alibi witness.
The lawsuit also claims that Skakel suffered violations of his constitutional rights, loss of liberty, humiliation, severe emotional distress, financial loss, and harm to his reputation and family relationships. It seeks unspecified damages over $15,000.
The case gained international attention due to the Kennedy name, Skakel's wealthy family, and the brutal nature of Moxley's murder. Several other individuals, including Skakel's brother Tommy, were mentioned as possible suspects, but the focus remained on Skakel. The murder took place in the exclusive Bell Haven section of Greenwich, where Skakel and Moxley were neighbors.
Skakel's conviction was overturned in 2018 after his defense lawyer failed to present evidence of an alibi. The state prosecutor announced in 2020 that Skakel would not be retried, and the murder charge was dropped. Skakel's cousin, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., has been one of his staunchest defenders, claiming that he was framed.
The state attorney general's office, which is defending Frank Garr, declined to comment on the lawsuit. Lawyers for Garr and the town of Greenwich have not yet filed their responses. The Moxley family continues to maintain their belief that Skakel is the killer.
