Kennedy Cousin Michael Skakel To Face Parole Board For First Time

NEW HAVEN, Conn. (CBSNewYork) - Kennedy cousin Michael Skakel goes up for parole for the first time on Wednesday.

Skakel was convicted in the 1975 murder of 15-year-old Martha Moxley. Skakel was convicted in 2002 of beating the teen to death with a golf club in Greenwich.

Skakel, 52, was sentenced to 20 years to life for Moxley's murder. But in an appeal of the sentence, Skakel's lawyer told a three-judge panel that his client was 15 at the time and would have been tried in juvenile court where the maximum sentence would have been four years.

That appeal for a shorter sentence was rejected.

Moxley's mother and relatives will reportedly be at the parole hearing in Suffield to fight against Skakel's release.

Skakel would be eligible for release in April if the parole board approves it.

Skakel is a nephew of Robert Kennedy's widow, Ethel Kennedy.

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