Skakel Sues Greenwich, Claims Misconduct In Moxley Probe: Report

GREENWICH, CT — Michael Skakel has filed a new lawsuit against the town of Greenwich and the detective who investigated him in the 1975 murder of Martha Moxley, claiming improper procedures sent him to prison, according to Greenwich Time.

The lawsuit, which names the town of Greenwich and former Greenwich detective Frank Garr, claims Skakel's civil rights were knowingly violated.

The suit further claims the parties "ignored evidence of third party suspects, withheld exculpatory and favorable evidence from the defense, intimidated and/or threatened witnesses, ignored a supported alibi, fabricated Skakel and Kennedy family cover ups and maintained a murder case against MS (Michael Skakel) because they wanted to convict a 'Kennedy cousin' and, in Garr's case, it was done for want of fame and recognition complimented by pecuniary gain expected from a book and movie deal about the 'Kennedy cousin' who killed Martha Moxley."

The mystery surrounding Moxley's death has attracted national and worldwide attention over the years.

Moxley, who was 15 at the time, was beaten to death with a golf club on Oct. 30, 1975, in the Belle Haven neighborhood of Greenwich. Her body was discovered the next day.

Skakel, a relative of the Kennedy political family, was a neighbor of Moxley at the time of her death and also 15 in 1975. He was charged with Moxley's murder in 2000, convicted in 2002, and later sentenced to 20 years to life in prison.

Skakel was locked up for more than a decade, but in 2013, a judge granted him a new trial, saying his first attorney didn't adequately represent him.

In 2018, the Connecticut Supreme Court vacated Skakel's murder conviction. In 2020, prosecutors said they would not retry him.

Skakel's attorney, Stephan Seeger, told Greenwich Time on the latest lawsuit, "It’s time the untold stories on the road to wrongful conviction are heard and it’s time those responsible are held accountable. "

Last April, Skakel filed a lawsuit against the town and Garr seeking to recover a set of audiotapesthat were used in the trial that convicted him.

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