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| Kennedy cousin Michael Skakel granted new murder trial | Kennedy cousin Michael Skakel granted new murder trial |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| A relative of the prominent US Kennedy family has been granted a new trial in the 1975 beating death of a girl. | A relative of the prominent US Kennedy family has been granted a new trial in the 1975 beating death of a girl. |
| Michael Skakel, whose aunt Ethel was the widow of Robert Kennedy, was found guilty in 2002 of killing his teenage neighbour with a golf club. | Michael Skakel, whose aunt Ethel was the widow of Robert Kennedy, was found guilty in 2002 of killing his teenage neighbour with a golf club. |
| On Wednesday a judge in the US state of Connecticut found Mr Skakel's lawyer had failed to represent him adequately. | On Wednesday a judge in the US state of Connecticut found Mr Skakel's lawyer had failed to represent him adequately. |
| Mr Skakel was sentenced to 20 years to life in prison. He has maintained his innocence. | Mr Skakel was sentenced to 20 years to life in prison. He has maintained his innocence. |
| "We're very, very thrilled,'' Mr Skakel's lawyer Hubert Santos told reporters. | "We're very, very thrilled,'' Mr Skakel's lawyer Hubert Santos told reporters. |
| Mr Santos said he planned to seek Mr Skakel's release on Thursday, the Associated Press news agency reported. | Mr Santos said he planned to seek Mr Skakel's release on Thursday, the Associated Press news agency reported. |
| Bridgeport State's Attorney John Smriga told the Associated Press he planned to appeal against the decision overturning the conviction. | Bridgeport State's Attorney John Smriga told the Associated Press he planned to appeal against the decision overturning the conviction. |
| 'Triggered rage' | 'Triggered rage' |
| Mr Skakel, 52, appealed his 2002 conviction on the grounds that his trial attorney was negligent in defending him in the death of 15-year-old Martha Moxley. | Mr Skakel, 52, appealed his 2002 conviction on the grounds that his trial attorney was negligent in defending him in the death of 15-year-old Martha Moxley. |
| But prosecutor Susann Gill has said the state has compelling evidence of motive as well as three confessions and other incriminating statements made by Mr Skakel. | But prosecutor Susann Gill has said the state has compelling evidence of motive as well as three confessions and other incriminating statements made by Mr Skakel. |
| "His drug-addled mental state, coupled with the infuriating knowledge that his hated brother Tommy had a sexual liaison with Martha, and the fact that Martha spurned his advances, triggered the rage which led him to beat her to death with a golf club,'' Ms Gill wrote. | "His drug-addled mental state, coupled with the infuriating knowledge that his hated brother Tommy had a sexual liaison with Martha, and the fact that Martha spurned his advances, triggered the rage which led him to beat her to death with a golf club,'' Ms Gill wrote. |
| The battered body of Moxley, who lived near the Skakel family in wealthy Greenwich, Connecticut, was found on the lawn of her parents' house. | The battered body of Moxley, who lived near the Skakel family in wealthy Greenwich, Connecticut, was found on the lawn of her parents' house. |
| She had been bludgeoned with a golf club - later traced to a set owned by Mr Skakel's mother - and stabbed in the neck with the shaft of the club. | She had been bludgeoned with a golf club - later traced to a set owned by Mr Skakel's mother - and stabbed in the neck with the shaft of the club. |
| There were no witnesses or forensic evidence, but several people later testified that they had heard Mr Skakel confess to the crime. | There were no witnesses or forensic evidence, but several people later testified that they had heard Mr Skakel confess to the crime. |
| One witness previously quoted him as saying: "I'm going to get away with murder, because I'm a Kennedy." | One witness previously quoted him as saying: "I'm going to get away with murder, because I'm a Kennedy." |
| The Kennedys were one of the most prominent families in 20th Century US politics. | The Kennedys were one of the most prominent families in 20th Century US politics. |
| Joseph Kennedy was US ambassador to Britain under President Franklin Roosevelt. His son John Kennedy was president 1961-63, and his other sons Robert and Edward were senators. |