Kennedy nephew charged with murder

Michael Skakel has long maintained his innocence

The nephew of the late US senator Robert Kennedy appeared in court on Wednesday to be formally charged with murder.

Michael Skakel, 40, is accused of beating his neighbour, Martha Moxley, to death with a golf club in October 1975 when both were 15 years old. If convicted, he faces life imprisonment.

Martha Moxley: Beaten to death

During the five-minute hearing, Mr Skakel spoke only once to say he fully understood his rights.

As Mr Skakel was a minor when the murder took place, the case was originally handled by a juvenile court until last month when a judge ruled that it should be transferred to adult court.

The case has been one of America's most stubborn unsolved murders for decades, and the subject of best-selling books and films.

No 'needless delays'

Attempts to appeal against the decision had threatened to delay the hearing.

He didn't do it... Michael Skakel didn't commit this crime

Michael Sherman, defence lawyer

But Mr Skakel's defence lawyer, Michael Sherman said his client, who has maintained his innocence, wanted the issue resolved without "needless delays".

Mr Sherman told the judge that Mr Skakel wants a probable cause hearing, in which a judge decides if there is enough evidence to proceed to trial.

Prosecutors had considered dropping the case unless it was heard in an adult court. arguing that if found guilty, the accused would otherwise face such a small penalty that the trial might not be worth the upset to the Moxley family.

Clubbed to death

On the night of her death, Ms Moxley had visited the Skakel home along with several other teenagers after a night of pre-Halloween pranks.

She then left the house, apparently bound for home, but never arrived.

Her body was found the next day under low-hanging fir trees on her family's property, located across the street from the Skakel estate.

She had been beaten with a iron golf club and stabbed in the throat with a piece of the club's shattered shaft, police said.

The club was matched to a set owned by the Skakel family.