April 15, 2003

ROBERT F. KENNEDY, JR. AND THE SKAKELS BREAK THEIR SILENCE ABOUT MARTHA MOXLEY'S MURDER ON
"48 HOURS INVESTIGATES," WEDNESDAY, APRIL 16 ?

In exclusive interviews with anchor Lesley Stahl, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. and Skakel brothers David, Stephen and John break their silence regarding the murder of Martha Moxley. Kennedy says his cousin, Michael Skakel, was wrongfully convicted of Moxley's murder, as do Michael's aforementioned brothers. 48 HOURS INVESTIGATES: "RFK, Jr., A Family's Defense," will be broadcast Wednesday, April 16 (10:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network.

Kennedy tells Stahl, "For me to come out publicly to defend somebody that basically everybody in the country feels is guilty of murder, is, from a personal strategy, it's probably not a good choice for me, but I know he's innocent." Though he's never publicly spoken about his cousin Michael's conviction, Kennedy, after a six-month reexamination of the case, wrote a recent article for The Atlantic Monthly, which outlines why he believes Skakel was wrongfully convicted of Moxley's murder.

Skakel brothers David, Stephen and John also believe in their brother's innocence and will fight for him until he is freed. Stephen Skakel, 36, leads the fight by telling Stahl, "We have coped with nearly 30 years of false accusations against our family and, as such, my brother who I know to be innocent now sits in jail."

With no DNA, witnesses or fingerprints at the Moxley murder scene in October 1975, the Skakels and Kennedy wonder how Michael was convicted almost 30 years later. Also, Michael had a solid alibi that evening. The Skakels and Kennedy claim that prosecutor Jonathan Benedict deliberately twisted Michael's own words - from an old audiotape - in his closing argument to make it appear Michael had confessed. However, Benedict claims no evidence was used unfairly and that Micheal's alibi might not be so solid after all.

48 HOURS INVESTIGATES: "RFK, Jr., A Family's Defense," is produced by Anthony Batson, Mary Noonan and Deborah Grau. The senior producer is Reid Collins, Jr., the executive editor is Al Briganti and the executive producer is Susan Zirinsky.

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Press Contact: Marcy Erhard 212/975-2888 erhardm@cbsnews.com

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