Show AS — The Herald Journal Logan Utah Friday August 30 2002 Q Notion l l senaemedl ff®ir Kemntiedly stDoosiDii NORWALK Conn (AP) — A judge sentenced Michael Skakel to 20 years to life in prison Thursday for bludgeoning his teenage neighbor with a golf duh in 1975 after hearing the Kennedy cousin tearfully proclaim his innocence and link his suffering to that of Jesus Christ Skakel told Norwalk Supe- rior Court Judge John F Kavanewsky Jr he could not apologize for a crimp he had not committed “I would love to be able to say I did this crime so the Moxley family could have rest and pcsK'e hut I can't" he said sobbing “To do that would be a lie” Kavanewsky said he was imposing a substantial sentence on Ethel Kennedy's nephew because of the brutality of the crime and because Skakel was unrepentant “For the last 25 years or the defendant has more been living a lie about his guilt" the judge said “This defendant has accepted no responsibility he has expressed no personal remorse" Skakel 41 was convicted in June of killing Martha Moxley when they were 15 -- year-old neighbors in wealthy Green- wich He plans to appeal Skakel who did not testify at his trial gave a rambling mmaBGrdlEr good cheer and love of life his perceptiveness exuberance and extraordinary gen- s erosity” f 't i v7 j: Michael Skakel left is escorted by court officials as he enters the Norwalk Conn courthouse on Thursday Skakel a nephew of Ethel Kennedy was sentenced to 20 years to life In prison for the murder of Martha Moxley : above after the hearing Kennedy cousin tearfully proclaim his innocence and link his suffering to that of Jesus Christ H tearful speech in which he said he had screamed at God to protest his fate Responding to prosecutors' arguments that Skakel was rarely employed Skakel said “And as far as a job is concerned I mean what did Jesus Christ do? He walked around the world telling people that he loved them Should he go to jail for that?” Skakel also said that when he explained to his son on Easter that he might go to prison he said the holiday was about “God’s child and they put him in prison" “It sounded to me like he was trying to compare himself with someone being cruci- -' conviction is appealed Defense lawyer Michael Sherman submitted letters from numerous supporters including Robert F Kennedy Jr and Ethel Kennedy “Financially privileged Michael was growing emo- tionally destitute” she wrote of Skakel’s difficult childhood “It pains me that others miss his sweetness kindness fled” prosecutor Jonathan Benedict said late1 Benedict had urged the court to impose a maximum sentence of 25 years to life calling the mur- der evil” Under 1975 sentencing guidelines Skakel will become eligible 'for parole on “cold-blooded- ly Sherman also noted a presentencing report compiled by a probation officer which Sherman said did not recom- mend a life sentence In a steady rain outside the courthouse Martha’s mother Dorthy Moxley called the sentence reasonable Brother John Moxley said he was numb “Three’s no celebration” John Moxley said “There’s no party to go to” Martha’s battered body was discovered on Oct 31 1975 under a tree on her family’s estate near the Skakel home in a gated Greenwich communi- ty She had been repeatedly beaten with a golf club — later traced to a set owned by Skakel’s mother — and stabbed in the neck with the club’s shaft ' ' At trial prosecution witnesses said Skakel was romantically interested in Martha but suggested he was upset because his older brother Thomas an early suspect in the slaying was making advances on their attractive blonde neighbor -- ’ free Skakel on bond while the creating speculation that wealth privilege and the Kennedy connection had protected the Skakel family Attention turned to Michael in the early 1990s when he gave new details of his activities the night of the murder to a private investigator hired by the Skakel family Skakel was arrested in 2000 after a grand jury investigation He fought to have his case heard in juvenile court but a judge ruled the state had no juvenile facility in which to man lock up a middle-ag- e The case was transferred to adult court in januaiy 2001 Prosecutors had no eyewitnesses and little forensic evidence Instead they presented about a dozen people who said they had heard Skakel confess or make incriminating statements One such witness Gregory Coleman died of heroin use by the time Skakel’s trial began But prosecutors were permitted to read Coleman’s pretrial testimony into the record including an allegation that Skakel once told him: “I’m going to get away with murder because I’m a Kennedy” April 27 2013 Kavanewsky rejected a defense motion to Smart School Styles CHILDRENS wasatchmo1itgage yy ' 's'- - The case went unsolved ' CUTS HAIR COLOR Kids age 9 Starting Al ii— '"SOLUTIONlTJri - and under Rotes are Great for Debt Consolidation! 755-217- 7 cut Aslatab IptcM wrap Hans rightly won ’30 faalSatr Callbdap t son Mniui LmOflor PERMS MbEyi i 118NorthllajHDawntomiljeganMoiiday-8aAunlasr8am-6pn- J -- '‘V- Utah - ’ ' ' y l j ‘i your voice desenes to be heard Wb dis- agree Wa’re Utahns Against Unfair Taxes a fating to make sure youriNtxxjn: yours had a voice in deciding which tiatiy got on the ballot Gout recer spreme turned law t I'V1 ini- - hlte 1 racf -1 t' 'y ' j' ': 1' i'i' ' ' : - ' I'- V igpor--‘-'?- V coiities altogether! ( v us ‘Learn how tb make spre your vote ' ' r' eiVpoLrisV f V--J - : m Jl : ' - ' lilGju r 'rnospeintBres ' Ing tHe rural ii ’ i i ' - v ' 'iK y ' j IHmw L"" ’ t ties by jjjg The Utah Supreme Court struck down ' 'atiy-- led'to get eno natures equaling at (east 1 d percentof tjie Ihela8t gMmOr'Moe in 20 obciv i 1 ' signatures to meet that requirement they w to court r sigrires to come from one county This means the needed number of- : that paid anyone placing an initiative op the ballot needed to 'get ' ’the ':Vviw over- - - ''-- -- like a state : v A ties This was to insure that rural counties think SuprCouridoesnl ' :u you-ca- your vote count and stop new taxes Mil HI ITIIMII HIIMI HFIII TIIH v- - v h '1-- o msdro y- ' r ’W"' c i N'J: U V s-- v:'v5:v - ri ' °’: : -- f |