Skakel Away at Time of Murder, Kin Say

Michael Skakel was miles away at his cousin’s Greenwich estate the October 1975 night Martha Moxley was murdered, Skakel’s brother and cousin testified Wednesday.

But Skakel’s relatives had trouble recalling events surrounding the murder other than those related to his alibi. And the cousin’s account differed in some respects from Skakel’s own version, played on a tape Wednesday when the prosecution rested its case.

“What they specifically recall is their part of the alibi and nothing else,” said John Moxley, the victim’s brother. “It’s bad acting. Over the years these guys are forgetting their lines.”

Skakel, 41, is charged with beating Moxley to death with a golf club that was traced to a set owned by the Skakel family. Both Skakel and Moxley were 15 at the time. Skakel is a nephew of the late Sen. Robert F. Kennedy’s widow, Ethel.

The defense, which opened its case Wednesday, is trying to narrow the time of Moxley’s death to the period when Skakel says he and his brothers took a trip to his cousin’s house.

A friend of Skakel’s sister has testified that Skakel was not in the car that went to his cousin’s house. Defense lawyers plan to call her back to challenge her testimony.

Prosecutors have not pinpointed the time of death but have said it occurred between 9:30 p.m. Oct. 30 and 5 a.m. Oct. 31.

On the tape, Skakel described a night of drinking and smoking marijuana at his cousin’s house. He said that after returning home, he became sexually aroused and went to look for Moxley by climbing a tree on her property. Moxley’s body was found under a pine tree on her property.

Rushton Skakel Jr., Skakel’s older brother, and his cousin James Dowdle said Michael Skakel was with them when they left the Skakel house about 9:30 p.m. They said they left the Dowdles’ estate shortly before 11 p.m.

In the tape, Skakel describes the house as a “fantasy land” with no adult supervision.

On cross-examination, Rushton Skakel said he could not recall the commotion associated with the slaying the next day. The witness, a Dartmouth College student at the time, also said he had no memory of taking a trip with his entire family to give statements to the police a few weeks later.

On the tape played by the prosecution, Michael Skakel had said Rushton was too drunk to drive home from his cousin’s and that another brother, John, who did not have a driver’s license, took the wheel.

But Dowdle said Rushton appeared fine. Rushton denied he was drunk, and said John took over because he didn’t like the way Rushton was driving.

Michael also said on the tape that he and Moxley were sitting in the family car until it was time to take Dowdle home. Dowdle, however, said Michael came out of the house with him when it was time to go.

“It happened so long ago, I just can’t remember those kinds of details,” Dowdle said.