NORWALK, Conn. – Jurors weighing the fate of Kennedy cousin Michael Skakel are hearing about a strange school where students wore dunce caps and signs, screamed and confronted each other at dreaded “general meetings” and inflicted beatings in boxing rings.

Skakel, 41, is accused of beating Martha Moxley to death with a golf club in 1975 in wealthy Greenwich. Skakel, a nephew of Ethel Kennedy, and Moxley were 15-year-old neighbors at the time.

Prosecutors arrived at a key part of their case last week, presenting testimony that Skakel allegedly confessed or made incriminating statements when he attended the Elan School in the late 1970s. The school in Poland Spring, Maine, is a substance abuse center for troubled teens.

So far, two Elan students have alleged Skakel confessed. One died last year, so prosecutors read a transcript of his pretrial testimony on Friday for the jury to hear.

Other former Elan students have said Skakel never admitted the killing but often said he didn’t know what happened because he was drinking and may have blacked out the night of the murder. Skakel also suggested that his brother could have committed the murder, according to testimony.

Defense attorneys are challenging the credibility of the witnesses and underscoring what they call the harsh treatment at Elan.

“Anything he said has to be understood in the context of the Elan program,” said Michael Sherman, Skakel’s defense attorney.

In his opening statement to the jury, Sherman promised witnesses who would describe Elan as a “hellhole.”

But prosecutors note that the alleged confessions occurred in more casual settings, such as at night with only one other student present.

“Michael’s alleged confessions seem to come at times when the madness had let up,” said Timothy Dumas, who wrote a book on the murder. “However, the jury might see the totality of the atmosphere at Elan as being one in which you might say anything to get out of some harsh treatment.”

Former Elan students described a remotely located school with an intense environment where failing to sweep the floor fast enough could provoke a reprimand.

“The structure of the home was to yell and scream to provoke a reaction,” testified Charles Seigan, who attended Elan with Skakel. “It was kind of a crazy place.”

A general meeting was the scariest aspect of the program, Seigan said. They were called when students violated a cardinal rule – such as when Skakel briefly ran away.

Students would be suddenly summoned to the meeting and stirred up like a pep rally, with foot stomping. When the student in question was dragged into the room, a barrage of people would charge and confront the person about misconduct, students said.

The late Joseph Ricci, the school’s feared director, often led general meetings. At one, students said, he told them about Skakel’s possible involvement in the Moxley murder.

Ricci had a grip on students such as Seigan, who recalled eagerly shining his shoes.

“I just remember doing such a good job. I spent an hour on them,” Seigan said. “This was a guy who seemed to be in control, young, charismatic, wealthy.”

Other Elan students described a boxing ring in which Skakel was forced to fight other students. One student said Skakel had to wear a sign, “Confront me on why I murdered Martha Moxley.”

Prosecutors have additional former Elan students on their list of possible witnesses, but it’s unclear whether more will be called.