Kennedy cousin didn't commit Martha Moxley murder: Attorney

(NewsNation) —  Stephan Seeger, an attorney for Michael Skakel, a cousin of the Kennedy family, tells NewsNation his client did not murder his "friend" Martha Moxley in 1975.

Skakel was found guilty in 2002 of the bludgeoning death of Moxley, who lived across the street from the Skakel family in wealthy Greenwich, Connecticut, and whose body was found in her family’s backyard.

Skakel and Moxley were both 15 at the time of her death.

After serving 11 years in prison, Skakel's murder conviction was overturned in 2008 by the Connecticut Supreme Court, saying his defense lawyer failed to present evidence of an alibi.

A state prosecutor announced in 2020 that Skakel would not be put on trial again, and the murder charge was dropped.

Skakel spoke publicly for the first time on NBC’s podcast “Dead Certain: The Martha Moxley Murder,” describing himself as "a good fall guy."

Seeger told "Banfield" on Wednesday he is representing Skakel in a civil rights lawsuit against the lead police investigator in the case and the town of Greenwich. The other lawsuit, according to Seeger, asks to have the alleged confession tapes returned, which he says have "mysteriously just disappeared."

Regarding Skakel's innocence, Seeger mentioned Skakel's friendship with Moxley.

"Michael and Martha were friends. Of course, he liked to be able to serve up the real killer," Seeger said.

"And what I know for sure is that it's not him. In terms of putting something like this behind you, it's very difficult. It's wishful thinking, to a large extent."

Seeger also rebuked the notion that Skakel, a nephew of Robert F. Kennedy’s widow, Ethel Kennedy, received favorable treatment due to his genealogy

"A lot of people say, 'Oh, he's a Kennedy cousin, and therefore he's got special treatment.' Well, I don't know with that kind of power and influence that people speculate about, how he lands in jail for 11 and a half years. This is ludicrous to believe that. He didn't do the crime."