Babysitter in Michael K scandal may testify in Skakel slay trial (What Ted K. isn't talking about)

Boston Herald | 01-17-02 | Laurel J. Sweet

[Lance Romance]

Babysitter in Michael K scandal may testify in Skakel slay trial
by Laurel J. Sweet

Thursday, January 17, 2002

The former teen babysitter of Michael Kennedy's children, whose alleged liaison with her late employer scandalized the family dynasty, may be called to testify against his cousin, murder suspect Michael Skakel.

The former Cohasset teen, whose alleged relationship with Michael Kennedy began when she was 14 and lasted five years, is one of dozens of considered witnesses Skakel's prosecutors may call upon, the Associated Press reported last night.

``We understand her name is on the witness list but we have no idea why,'' Nancy Sterling, a spokeswoman for the babysitter's family, said last night.

It's believed the babysitter moved out of state after graduating college.

Skakel, 41, is awaiting trial for the Oct. 30, 1975, gruesome slaying of his then-teenage crush, Martha Moxley, in a tony neighborhood of Greenwich, Conn.

Though just 15 when Moxley was bludgeoned with a golf club and stabbed with its broken shaft, he will be tried as an adult.

Skakel is the nephew of Michael Kennedy's late father, U. S. Sen. Robert F. Kennedy. Skakel was Michael Kennedy's driver in the 1990s, but he told the district attorney about the alleged affair, which resulted in Michael Kennedy being charged with statutory rape.

The charges were dropped when the babysitter and her family refused to testify against him.

Moxley's mother, Dorthy, said last night she didn't know what to make of this latest twist in the case or what the babysitter might know that could help put Skakel away.

``I don't know,'' she said. ``Isn't that interesting? I'm sure there's going to be a lot that comes as a surprise to me.''

Skakel's lawyer, Michael Sherman, said, ``I've known about the list for quite some time, but I don't think it would be appropriate to comment.''

The witness list also includes two earlier suspects in Moxley's murder: Skakel's older brother, Thomas, and Kenneth Littleton, a live-in tutor to the Skakel brothers.

Skakel's sister, Julie, and his father, Rushton Skakel Sr., also are named. Another potential witness listed is Cambridge author Richard Hoffman, who helped Skakel pen his aborted Kennedy tell-all, ``Dead Man Talking: A Kennedy Cousin Comes Clean.''

Hoffman said he was ``shocked'' by the possibility of the babysitter taking the stand.

``I imagine (prosecutors) are grasping at straws. The most damage she could do would be to say that the man who was exploiting her told her (Skakel) said this or that.''

Herald wire services contributed to this report.

[Lance Romance]

Just in case someone here at the FR forgot what scumbags the Kennedy's are.

[Chemnitz]

Oh, thanks, I forgot for a second.

It's interesting how this murder was well known and written about for years, but never discussed in public. Then Teddy took the Smith boys out drinking, a trial followed, and Skakel emerged. Suddenly the press played up the murder. Dominic Dunne did his part with a novel, then Mark Furman wrote an excellent book on the murder.

I admire the mother of the girl, for sticking with the case so long and for being so brave. Rich kids seldom go to jail, but at least the Kennedy-Skakel clan will be exposed for what they are. On second thought, it would take a few more trials for that.

The postman always rings twice, Ted.

[stlrocket]

Here are a few pictures that will help also.

GREAT BUMPER STICKER

COOL PROTEST SIGN

TEDDY AS MR UNIVERSE

[JohnGalt]

This article left out that the mother of the 'babysitter' killed herself last year. Many in the family believe she held herself responsible for the statutory rape of her daughter.

[surrey]

Skakel is the one who blew the whistle on Michael Kennedy. My son is very friendly with the "babysitter". She hasn't had it easy. Her Mother died last year and her godmother was in one of the planes involved in 9/11.

[OldFriend]

Did I read that correctly......Skaekel ratted out Michael regarding his affair with the babysitter.

[yoe]

Is there anyway to get some of those bumper stickers?

[cajungirl]

Right, Michael Skakel did rat out Michael Kennedy. I think he told the girl's mom, think they were friends. Anyway the Kennedys were enraged by it but they seem to be rallying around him some for this. He apparently has sort of quit drinking, gone to AA and been more reformed lately and that reportedly led to his ratting out Kennedy, he thought what he was doing was wrong. As it was. As was his murder of Moxley and the subsequent coverup by the Kennedy/Skakel bunch.

[Lucky2]

If anyone is interested in this case, read Mark Furhman's book on it. He has pretty much tied Skakel to Martha's murder. Now we just need a jury to convict him!

[OldFriend]

Keep in mind that Mickey Sherman is the most disgusting excuse for a lawyer on the face of the earth. He is the one who suggested to the family of the Darien rapist, Alex Kelly, that he couldn't get a fair trial.........fleeing the country would be a better option. Why this man wasn't disbarred is a mystery to me.......but then Kennedy Smith's attorney wasn't disbarred either when it became known that he was having a canoodle with a jurist DURING the trial.

[altura]

Two jobs not to let your daughter have:

1)baby sitter for any of the Kennedy's;
2)Intern for Clinton.

[Howlin]

Whatever else we do this year, we HAVE to get organzied; there are going to be a LOT of "good" trials to watch on TV!

[surrey]

Rumor has it that the Mom and Michael also knew each other in the biblical sense. The parents long marriage broke up after the story broke.No one could ever understand the attraction to Kennedy other than his name. The father in this scandal could have bought and sold Kennedy and is one of the handsomest men I've ever seen. But to be fair, despite his lack of morals, Michael K. was a damn nice guy.

[cajungirl]

Did the late Mom have an affair with Michael Kennedy or Michael Skakel? If it was Kennedy who seduced her daughter after fooling around with her, I understand the suicide,,I cannot imagine what a mother would feel after that other than terminally icky.

[NY THYMES]

Where are your facts that Mickey Sherman suggested Alex Kelly flee the country? You're telling an untruth aren't you?

[OldFriend]

Sherman doesn't deny that he told the family that Kelly could not get a fair trial because the Judge was going to allow BOTH girls to testify to being raped.