Michael Skakel Files Lawsuit Against Connecticut Police Over Evidence Withholding

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• Michael Skakel was convicted in 2002 for the murder of Martha Moxley in 1975 but had his conviction overturned in 2018.
• Skakel, a nephew of Robert F. Kennedy's widow, alleges malicious prosecution and civil rights violations in his lawsuit.
• The lawsuit accuses investigator Frank Garr of withholding key evidence and other misconduct.

Kennedy cousin Michael Skakel, previously convicted in the 1975 murder of Martha Moxley, has filed a lawsuit against Connecticut police and lead investigator Frank Garr for allegedly withholding evidence.

Skakel, who is related to the Kennedy family through his aunt Ethel Kennedy, widow of Robert F. Kennedy, spent over 11 years in prison following his 2002 conviction. The Connecticut Supreme Court overturned his conviction in 2018, and the charges were dropped in 2020.

The lawsuit alleges that crucial information beneficial to Skakel's defense was intentionally withheld, including sketches of a suspect not resembling Skakel, psychological reports on other suspects, and witness statements. These omissions, Skakel claims, led to a wrongful conviction. The suit further accuses Garr of having a deep antipathy towards the Skakel family and seeking profit from a book deal about the case. Skakel's lawyer, Stephan Seeger, described the legal action as a civil rights lawsuit, highlighting the severe impact of the wrongful conviction on Skakel's life.

Martha Moxley was bludgeoned and stabbed to death on her family's estate in Greenwich, Connecticut. The case drew significant attention due to its connection to the Kennedy family and the gruesome nature of the crime. Several other people, including Skakel's brother, Thomas Skakel, have been mentioned as potential suspects, though Thomas has denied any involvement.

The lawsuit, filed in state court in Stamford, seeks unspecified damages exceeding $15,000. The defendants have not yet filed responses to the suit. The murder of Martha Moxley remains officially unsolved, with her family still believing Skakel to be the killer.

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