Kopechne family response
Kopechne's parents did not allow an autopsy to be performed on their daughter.[4] They did not bring any legal action against Senator Kennedy, but they did receive a payment of $90,904 from the Senator personally and $50,000 from his insurance company.[4] The Kopechnes later explained their decision to not take legal action by saying that "We figured that people would think we were looking for blood money."[4]
[edit] Aftermath
On July 25, seven days after the incident, Kennedy entered a plea of guilty to a charge of leaving the scene of an accident after causing injury. He received a sentence of two months in jail, which was suspended, and lost his driving license for one year.[2] Later that day he announced on television that it was "indefensible that [he] had not reported the incident to police immediately."[5] He explained his behavior thus:
“ I was overcome, I'm frank to say, by a jumble of emotions - grief, fear, doubt, exhaustion, panic, confusion and shock.[5] ”
He denied that he had been engaged in "immoral conduct" with Kopechne, or that he had been driving under the influence of alcohol.[5] He wondered openly "whether some awful curse actually did hang over all the Kennedys".[5]
[edit] Investigations
The inquest into Kopechne's death took place in Edgartown in January 1970. At the request of Kennedy's lawyers, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court ordered that it be conducted in secret.[7][8] The 763-page transcript of the inquest was released four months later.[8] Judge James A. Boyle presided at the inquest. Among Judge Boyle's conclusions were the following:
"Kopechne and Kennedy did not intend to return to Edgartown" at the time they left the party.
"Kennedy did not intend to drive to the ferry slip".
"[Kennedy]'s turn onto Dike Road was intentional".
Judge Boyle also said that "negligent driving appears to have contributed to the death of Mary Jo Kopechne".[8]
Under Massachusetts law Boyle could have ordered Kennedy's arrest, but he chose not to do so.[8] District Attorney Dinis chose not to pursue Kennedy for manslaughter, despite Judge Boyle's conclusions.
In April 1970 a Dukes County Grand Jury convened for two days to look into the drowning. Four witnesses were heard, but no indictments were issued.[9]
