1010 WINS Interview: Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Insists Cousin Michael Skakel Was 'Framed' In 1975 Murder
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- In his new book "Framed," Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. argues that his cousin, Michael Skakel, was railroaded for the 1975 murder of a young neighbor.
Skakel was convicted in 2002 of beating Martha Moxley to death with a golf club when they were both 15 years old.
RFK Jr. sat down with 1010 WINS reporter Al Jones Wednesday and told Jones he was able to track down the real killers of Martha Moxley after Skakel's classmate, former basketball star Tony Bryant, got in touch with him after the trial.
"He sent me a note saying, 'I know who the real criminals are, the jury got it wrong,'" Kennedy said. "Bryant told me that he had been in Greenwich that night, the night of Martha's murder. He had brought the two boys to Greenwich who killed Martha. They had planned the murder in the train on the way up. "
Kennedy said the information was passed along to prosecutors, but that they didn't want to hear it and were intent on convicting Skakel.
Kennedy names the two men in his book and said he's not worried about a libel suit, claiming the truth is his defense.
"I hope they file a lawsuit, if they're innocent they will file a lawsuit against me," Kennedy said.
In 2013, Skakel was granted a new trial and was released from prison after a lower court judge ruled the trial lawyer failed to adequately represent him. He had been in prison more than 11 years on a sentence of 20 years to life before he was freed.
Skakel is awaiting retrial.
Skakel is the nephew of Robert F. Kennedy's widow Ethel.
"Framed: Why Michael Skakel Spent Over a Decade in Prison For a Murder He Didn't Commit" is now on sale.
