RFK Jr. Alleges Wife Physically Abused Him; Mary Kennedy's Family Fires Back

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Leaked court documents paint a picture of violence and betrayal between Robert Kennedy, Jr. and his late wife, Mary, who committed suicide last month.

Kennedy family historian Laurence Leamer talked to family friends and the Kennedy housekeeper for the bombshell report in Newsweek, but the most shocking information came from a 60-page sealed affidavit Bobby Kennedy gave during their bitter custody battle.

Mary Kennedy's reputation is under assault by allegations from her husband in confidential court papers that say during the past decade, she beat him multiple times, CBS 2's Don Dahler reported.

"Mary's violence and physical abuse toward me began before we were married," the affidavit from Robert Kennedy, Jr., stated. "In a sudden rage about my continued friendship with my ex-wife, [Mary] hit me in the face with her fist."

The family historian acquired the court documents and said he corroborated much of it with family, friends and employees.

"She came into the bathroom with scissors, used the scissors, he was taking a bath, to get in the door and came at him with the scissors and he had to protect himself from that. He would jump out of the second floor window. Now, people shake their head and say, 'This is impossible. It's too extreme. It's too extreme,' but it's the truth," Leamer said.

Among other revelations, Mary Kennedy, who had been arrested twice for DUI, ran over and killed the family dog in their driveway.

Robert Kennedy, Jr. also alleges he sometimes awoke in the middle of the night to find her pummeling him.

Mary Kennedy's family responded quickly to the report, calling the affidavit a brutal psychological weapon in the divorce case.

"This latest piling on is proof perfect of the unbelievable emotional and psychological abuse that Mary endured during the last years of her life, and now in death," Mary's family said in a statement.

Some suspect the documents were leaked by the Kennedy family to cover Bobby's mistreatment of his wife, but Leamer disputes that.

"Does this piece make Bobby Kennedy look good? I don't think so. I think it's an immensely sad story," Leamer said.

At the time of her death, Mary Kennedy was facing the very real possibility of losing custody of her four children.

The report said she asked her housekeeper's husband to buy a rope, ostensibly for a couch she was making.

A few weeks later, she used that rope to hang herself, Dahler reported.

What do you make of the shocking new information? Share your thoughts in the comments section below...