Skakel Could Serve Less than Six Years
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Michael Skakel awaits his fate. A sentencing hearing begins this morning for the Kennedy cousin. And since he was convicted of a 1975 murder, the court will play by 1975 rules. CNN's Deborah Feyerick explains.</s>DEBORAH FEYERICK, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Even if Kennedy cousin Michael Skakel gets the maximum sentence, 25 years to life, it's possible he could serve far less. Why? The date of Martha Moxley's murder, the night before Halloween, October, 1975. Though a jury in June found Skakel guilty of murdering his friend and neighbor when both were 15 years old, Skakel will still be sentenced under 1975 guidelines. That works in his favor in two ways. One, Skakel is eligible for parole in the future. He would not be if the crime occurred now. Two, he receives what prison officials call good time credits, which also don't exist now. Essentially, the credits are time off for good behavior, which Skakel gets as soon as he starts serving his sentence. What does this mean in real terms? If Skakel gets the minimum 10 year sentence, his good time credits will make him eligible for release in under six years. Instead of getting out in 2012, Skakel will get out in 2008. If Skakel is sentenced to the maximum, 25 years to life, with good time credits, he'll be eligible for parole in just over 13 years. Instead of getting out in 2027, he could get out in 2015. All of this assumes Skakel breaks no rules and stays on his best behavior. Otherwise, prison officials could see to it he serves the whole sentence. (on camera): Skakel is being held at a high security correctional facility in Newtown, Connecticut. At night, he is alone in an eight by 10 cell. During the day, he is allowed to take classes or hang out in a common area. He gets visitors twice a week and once every other weekend. His new lawyers are vigorously laying the groundwork for an appeal. Deborah Feyerick, CNN, Norwalk, Connecticut.