Jurors in Skakel trial ask to rehear closing argument

Associated Press WriterNORWALK, Conn. (AP) -- Jurors in the murder trial of Kennedy cousin Michael Skakel on Thursday asked to rehear a portion of the prosecution's closing argument, and the defense vowed to fight the request.

Prosecutor Jonathan Benedict said the jury's request was somewhat unusual, but said he would support it. But defense attorney Michael Sherman said he would object to the request because a closing argument is not evidence. Judge John F. Kavanewsky Jr. did not immediately rule.

Jurors also asked to rehear the judge's instructions on the requirements for a verdict.

The requests came a day after jurors asked to rehear testimony that raised questions about Skakel's alibi for the night in October 1975 that 15-year-old Martha Moxley was killed.

Jurors had asked to rehear testimony from six prosecution witnesses ranging from Skakel's only sister, Julie, to renowned forensics expert Henry Lee. Testimony of two of the six was reread before the end of the day Wednesday; one of the four remaining names were dropped from the jurors' request list Thursday.

Skakel, 41, is accused of beating Moxley to death with a golf club when he and she were 15-year-old neighbors in a wealthy gated community in Greenwich. He is a nephew of Ethel Kennedy, the widow of Sen. Robert Kennedy.

Moxley's brother, John Moxley, said he was encouraged by the jury's requests Wednesday.

"The things they seem to be focusing on so far would indicate that they believe the state put on a credible case," he said.

But Sherman said the jury's direction was unclear.

"We're all guessing. We just don't know. Anything is possible," he said.

Skakel's defense says he was visiting a cousin in another part of Greenwich when the murder was most likely committed. Skakel relatives testified for the defense that Michael was in a car that left the Skakel home about 9:30 p.m. on Oct. 30, 1975.

The rereading of testimony requested Wednesday went slowly because the jury asked for permission to deliberate on each witness' testimony before rehearing the next person's testimony.

Thursday morning, the panel reheard testimony from Helen Ix Fitzpatrick, a close Skakel family friend who said she could not be sure Skakel made a trip to his cousin's house that night.

Jurors also reheard the cross-examination of Lee, who testified that there was no direct evidence linking Skakel to the murder, but there was indirect evidence suggesting a link.

One of the witnesses whose testimony was reread Wednesday was Julie Skakel, Michael Skakel's sister who was called as a rebuttal witness by the prosecution. She testified that she was preparing to drive a friend home at about 9:30 p.m. and saw a figure running across her family's property.

She said that although she first thought it was Michael and called out his name, the figure did not respond and she doesn't believe now it was him.

She was also questioned by both sides about whether the car taking the cousin home had already left. She said she was unsure.