Michael Skakel gets 20 years to life for the 1975 killing of Martha Moxley. It's been a long time coming! I'm glad Mrs. Moxley lived long enough to see it...

More on the Skakel sentencing[/URL]

Kell

Not that I am for the Death Penalty, but wasn't it an option in this case?

I'm thinking that no, it wasn't an option because of his age when the crime was committed. I could be wrong though!

Kell

If this guy is innocent, as he says he is, why would he attempt so many tactics to lessen the severity of the trial, crime and punishment?

It's early, and I haven't slept yet, so please forgive me.... Nakis, what do you mean by your question? I may be missing something that happened.

Kell

I read the article the link brought me to. In it he proclaims innocence and questions why God has brought him to this suffering. But later in the article it talks about different tactics he has used to try and not be tried as all out murder. Like one tactic he tried to get his case tried in Juvenile court. (denied of course).
I would think that if you are innocent you would want to fight it straight out. No games, attempts to change and lessen things. Why try to get tried as a juvenile with lesser sentences and punishments for minors if you are really innocent.

Good point, Nakis. Me thinketh he doth have something to hide! My problem with this whole thing is that when the chips were down he made it out obe that he's inncoent and is being persecuted by God! Last time I chatted with the supreme ruler, he didn't seek some twisted pleasure from persecuting anyone letalone the "innocent"!

Ahh, I got ya now. Very good point.

At one time, I watched a documentary about this case. I wonder if some of the tactics Nakis mentioned were not recommended by the lawyer rather than the client. I've got a feeling Skakel's attourney attempted maneuvers like that from the thinking, "I've got a high profile client, from a controversial family. People love to see the rich and famous fall from grace, and I'll do whatever I can to lessen the blows that he is going to receive regardless of his guilt or innocence."
I don't know if that was the case, but it does stand to reason. I also don't doubt that Skakel was responsible for the girl's death, but it would not really surprise me to find that he had not acted alone. There are a lot of twists and turns in this case. I think that justice was served and Skakel got a fair trial despite being tried in the media. My deepest sympathies are for Mrs. Moxley, this was a terribly long time to wait for closure in the death of a child and I cannot imagine the distress she has lived under all these years.