WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. — Douglas Kennedy, a son of the late Sen. Robert F. Kennedy, was acquitted Tuesday of child endangerment and harassment charges stemming from a scuffle in a hospital maternity ward. During the seven-minute confrontation, the nurses issued two hospital alerts, including a ‘Code Pink,’ which is reserved for baby abductions, according to court documents. (CBS News) The youngest son of the late Sen. Robert F. Kennedy was acquitted Tuesday of all charges stemming from a hospital confrontation. Douglas Kennedy's sister-in-law, Mary Kennedy, hanged herself in May in Bedford. Douglas Kennedy, a son of the late Sen. Robert F. Kennedy, was acquitted Tuesday of child endangerment and harassment charges stemming from a scuffle in a hospital maternity ward. © 2012 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. Kennedys did nothing wrong in baby case, attorney says. Douglas Kennedy was born in New York City in 1955, the son of a commodities broker and a production assistant at NBC. Sign up for POLITICO Playbook and get the latest news, every morning — in your inbox. Max Kennedy is the ninth child of Robert F. Kennedy and Ethel Skakel Kennedy. Anschließend zog er nach Irland, wo er in Dublin ein Jahr lang an der Trinity College studierte und mit einem Freund eine Theatergesellschaft gründete. Neither Kennedy nor the nurses were immediately available for comment on Tuesday. Douglas Kennedy and his infant son are seen on hospital surveillance footage. Kennedy insisted he was innocent, waiving his right to a jury and letting a judge make the call. The not-guilty decision came on what would've been the 87th birthday of Kennedy's father, who was assassinated in 1968. In the end, it was the surveillance video at the center of the case that helped clear Kennedy. The women could still file a civil lawsuit. ", In a 10-page decision, Judge John Donohue wrote that the nurses "...(chose) to physically confront the defendant..." and that they told the court, Kennedy "was calm and did not raise his voice or threaten (them) in any way.". See here for a complete list of exchanges and delays. "It's an embarrassment that two nurses would so blatantly lie," Gottlieb said. Nurse Cari Luciano said Kennedy kicked her as she reached for the baby in Kennedy's arms. Douglas Kennedy currently serves as a correspondent for FOX News Channel (FNC). That's when two nurses -- thinking he was violating hospital policy -- tried to stop him, and a seven-minute confrontation unfolded. Kennedy's lawyer says the court has already spoken, and that his client's famous last name had nothing to do with it. Kennedy had said he just wanted to give his newborn child some fresh air. Prosecutors said his actions endangered the infant. magna cum laude from Bowdoin College in 1976. Douglas Kennedy ist der Sohn eines Brokers und einer Produktionsassistentin von NBC.Er besuchte die Collegiate School in New York City und schloss 1976 sein Geschichtsstudium mit Magna Cum Laude am Bowdoin College ab. “There was no evidence introduced ... that the mere act of taking his child outside the building would likely be injurious to the child’s physical welfare,” Donohue wrote in the ruling, which was faxed to the prosecution and defense teams on Tuesday. Mount Kisco Town Judge John Donohue, who heard the case without a jury, ruled that Kennedy broke no laws. ", The hospital confrontation resulted in a series of alarms, including a "code pink," which is used to signal a baby's abduction. The judge also noted that the temperature outside at the time was “60 degrees and the moon was full.”. Two maternity ward nurses physically tried to block Kennedy from taking his boy outside for some fresh air, which led to a confrontation in which Kennedy lost his balance and fell, according to a judge’s ruling. He went through this nightmare because he was a Kennedy.". Nurse Anna Lane testified that Kennedy twisted her arm as she tried to block him from going through a door to a stairwell. During the five-day trial, the prosecution tried to prove Kennedy was guilty of harassing nurses and putting his child in danger. He said they'd been told that any potential lawsuit for damages would have a better chance if a criminal conviction came first. In court, one nurse testified Kennedy twisted her arm, the other accused him of kicking her. NEW YORK (Reuters) - Douglas Kennedy, a son of slain Senator Robert F. Kennedy, was acquitted on Tuesday of child endangerment and harassment charges related to a confrontation with two nurses who tried to stop him from leaving the maternity ward with his newborn son. Sep 5, 2012 - Douglas Kennedy (Son of Robert and Ethel Kennedy) Kennedy's lawyer, Robert Gottlieb, said after the decision, "Given the barrage of public attention, it took a great deal of courage from this judge and we really do appreciate it. Missing out on the latest scoops? He joined the network in 1996 and is based in New York.Read More. Die Kennedys stammen aus Irland (der Name Kennedy leitet sich aus dem gälischen Wort cinneidigh her, was übersetzt behelmter Kopf bedeutet). President John F. Kennedy, his uncle, was assassinated in 1963. He was educated at The Collegiate School and graduated with a B.A. Most recently, Kennedy reported on … On the NBC program, the two nurses sought a public apology from Kennedy. The baby was uninjured in the fall. His father was assassinated in 1968. For Jeff Glor's full report, watch the video in the player above. Douglas Kennedy and his infant son are seen on hospital surveillance footage. A state investigation, including a visit to the Kennedy home in Chappaqua, found no evidence of child abuse. Douglas Kennedy, a son of slain Senator Robert F. Kennedy, was acquitted on Tuesday of child endangerment and harassment charges related to a … To receive an unequivocal statement from the judge that Douglas did not commit any crimes is just something that they are grateful for. "The fact that the baby was not injured is a miracle," Assistant District Attorney Amy Puerto said. She said Kennedy "resorted to violence instead of simply complying with a request.". Editing by Paul Thomasch and Peter Cooney. In February, nurses Anna Margaret Lane and Cari Maleman Luciano, appeared on NBC’s ‘Today’ show and said Kennedy physically hurt them during the incident, although authorities did not charge Kennedy with assault. Kennedy had tried in January to take his newborn son from Northern Westchester Hospital in Mount Kisco. Copyright © 2020 CBS Interactive Inc.All rights reserved. Douglas Kennedy trial: Son of late Sen. Robert F. Kennedy acquitted, Biden’s oil slip gives Trump campaign hope in Pa., Texas, Netanyahu dodges Trump’s invitation to slam Biden on conference call, Pennsylvania Supreme Court says ballots can’t be rejected based on signature comparisons, Senate inches closer to Barrett's confirmation despite Dem tactics. All quotes delayed a minimum of 15 minutes. Early years. However, several nurses objected, saying his request would violate hospital policy. Kennedy’s actions in the January 7 incident violated the Westchester, New York, hospital’s policy, Mount Kisco Town Justice John J. Donohue said in a 10-page ruling on the misdemeanor charges, but did not rise to the level of criminality. Douglas Kennedy was accused of assaulting two nurses earlier this year. His sister, Kerry Kennedy, has pleaded not guilty to drug-impaired driving after an accident on Interstate 684. He said testimony showed the baby was not in danger except from the nurses' actions. He also spent a year studying at Trinity College Dublin. Lawyers for Kennedy, 45, a Fox News correspondent and 10th child of Robert and Ethel Kennedy, said in court the nurses were preparing to file a civil lawsuit against him seeking money. Kennedy also fell when that happened but kept hold of the baby. Gottlieb said, "People should not think for a moment that he received preferential treatment because he was a Kennedy. Gottlieb said, "Douglas and Molly are incredibly thrilled by the end of the nightmare. Kennedy, 45, is the 10th of 11 children of Robert and Ethel Kennedy. Leben. ", He said the nurses overreacted to Kennedy's request and when they realized the hospital would investigate, they "join together, get their stories straight and pressure the district attorney's office to bring charges.". Max Kennedy was born in New York City and baptized by Monsignor William McCormack in Manhattan's St. Patrick's Cathedral, in front of a crowd of 200 people.He is named after General Maxwell D. Taylor, then serving as the U.S. In his closing argument, Gottlieb called the alarm "preposterous. "I was a history major," Kennedy explained. Kennedy's wife, Molly, accompanied him to the trial. He said he just wanted the 2-day-old boy, Anthony Boru Kennedy, to get some fresh air. Kennedy tried to leave anyway, and two nurses claimed he hurt them as they blocked his way. Back in January, cameras captured Kennedy, 45,  trying to leave a Westchester, N.Y.,  hospital with his 2-day-old son, Bo. Patrick, ein Bauer auf der Flucht vor der Hungersnot in Irland 1845–1849, lernte auf der langen Überfahrt nach Amerika seine spätere Frau Bridget kennen.Sie hatten vier Kinder. Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. Gottlieb said it was a push rather than a kick and was an instinctive reaction of a father trying to protect his baby. Robert Gottlieb, Kennedy's attorney, said, "The only people who acted inappropriately, the only people the judge found who created this situation that resulted in what everyone saw in the videotape were the nurses.".