Tearful Nurse Testifies Against Douglas Kennedy On First Day Of Trial
MOUNT KISCO, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- A Kennedy is on trial in Westchester County.
Douglas Kennedy, son of the late Sen. Robert F. Kennedy, is accused of assaulting hospital nurses. The confrontation over his newborn son was caught on surveillance video.
A confident Kennedy marched into Justice Court in Mount Kisco on Monday with his wife, Molly, and family by his side.
"I'm feeling ready for this to start. Thank you very much. Hopefully, everything will turn out okay," Kennedy told CBS 2's Hazel Sanchez.
"There's no people I love more than them who are greater parents and they have the most extraordinary children in the world. We all look forward to this being over today," said Maxwell Kennedy, the accused's brother.
Monday was day one for Douglas Kennedy's bench trial. He's charged with child endangerment and physical harassment after allegedly assaulting two nurses at Northern Westchester Hospital in January. Surveillance cameras captured video as one nurse falls to the ground trying to stop Kennedy from taking his newborn son, Bo, outside.
On Monday, nurse Anna Lane tearfully testified how she tried to block Kennedy from the doorway, saying "I had my right hand behind my back, so he grabbed my left hand and twisted my arm."
Kennedy's defense said he just wanted to take his son out for fresh air.
"It's been very difficult for Douglas and his family. That's why we have trials, and we're prepared to begin," one of his attorneys said.
Several hospital employees, including security workers and nurses, took the stand. Nurse Lane said she was forced to call security after she instructed Kennedy return baby Bo to his room but she said, "He said he was going to do whatever he wanted to do."
A second nurse who Kennedy allegedly pushed to the ground is expected to testify Tuesday.
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