All language subtitles for The Staircase Murders (2007).1080p

So, you want me
to sit here?

Yes.
Make yourself comfortable.

Okay.

Right.

So, do I look okay?
My hair, and--

You look fine.
Don't be nervous.

I'm not nervous.

All right. Ready?

Yeah.

Tell me about Kathleen,
your relationship with her.

Well...

she was, um...

We were...

- Can I start again?
- Sure.

Kathleen was
the love of my life.

We were together
for 13 years and...

we got married five years ago.

And, uh...

We were soulmates,

best friends.

And there's just no way
in the world that I would...

I'm sorry. I'm sorry.

I can't do this right now.
I thought I could.

I'm so-- I'm sorry.

Would you turn that off, please?

I'm just...

I'm sorry.

All right. Cut.

Oh, God.

Oh, my God!

Oh, my God!

Oh. Oh, my God.

Oh, God.

Kathleen? Oh, God.

Oh, God. Oh, oh, God.

Oh, oh, my God.
Oh, my God.

Kathleen, baby.

Oh, God.
Oh, my God!

Oh, honey. Oh, God!

Oh, my God.

Oh.

Durham 911,
where's your emergency?

- 1810 Cedar Street, please!
- What's wrong, sir?

My-- My wife's had an accident!

- She's-- She's still breathing!
- What kind--

-What kind of accident?
-Uh, she fell down the stairs!

She's still breathing! Please!

- Is she conscious?
- No, no! She's not conscious!

- Please!
- How many stairs

-did she fall down?
-What?

How many stairs
did she fall down?

Oh! Uh, I don't know!
Uh-- Uh--

Uh, fifteen, twenty?
Oh, please. Just hurry.

- Please.
- Calm down, sir.

Oh, God. Oh, baby.

Oh, God. Oh, God.

Honey?
Are you still with me, honey?

Kathleen? Honey?
Oh, my God.

Durham 911.
Where's your emergency?

She's not breathing!
She stopped breathing!

- Calm down, sir.
- Where are you?

What's taking you people
so long?

- Sir, calm down.
- Oh, God.

They're on the way.

Hello? Hello?

That night, I was out
at a party with this girl.

And my parents
were at home celebrating.

My father's
a best-selling author,

and he just sold the film rights to his latest book.

It was a big Hollywood deal.

Anyhow, when...

When I got home, the ambulance
and cop cars were there.

I thought Dad had a heart attack or something.

I-- I didn't know.

It's crazy how fast your life
can change.

Just like that.

And you believed
your father's story?

That Kathleen fell down
the stairs?

It's not a story.

It's the truth.

-Honey? Honey--
-Sir. Sir.

-Stay away from the body.
-That's my wife.

-Dad. Dad, come on.
-That's my wife.

- That's my wife.
- Dad, come on.

They haven't even
secured the property.

Geez, what's wrong
with these guys?

Nice house.
Whose place is this?

Michael Peterson.

What, you know him?

-Who is he?
-Oh, some writer.

Is he the guy that ran for mayor
two years ago?

Uh-huh.
I sure didn't vote for him.

I didn't vote for him, either.

He seems to be doing okay
as a writer.

Officer, this is
our ballgame now.

-Where's the body?
-Right over there.

-All right. Secure the property.
-Yes, sir.

Well, the head and neck
still seem to be in alignment.

Shouldn't they be out
of alignment?

Mm-hm.

And how'd that get there?

-Kathleen.
-Hey, uh, get him out of here.

-Sir, I'm sorry. We can't--
-Come on, take him out of here.

-All right. There you go.
-Honey?

Dad.
Come on. Come on.

Come on, Dad.
Let's go sit down.

O'Neil, you know what to do.

Excuse me, who's in charge here?

Who wants to know?

Dr. Adams,
State Medical Examiner.

State Medical Examiner?

Yes, sir.

Son, have you even hit
puberty yet?

Let's get some pictures.

You're the Peterson that wrote
the column

for the Sun Herald,right?

Uh-huh. It's good stuff.

Let's see, you said, uh...

"Durham cops were so incompetent
that the chance of them

catching a criminal was only
slightly better

than getting struck
by lightning," right?

That's nice.

I'm, uh, Detective Joe Castell.

Can you tell me
what happened here?

Well,
we had a bit to drink.

We were celebrating.

Afterwards, I assumed
she'd gone to bed.

She had her flip-flops on.

-So, I posit that she was--
-"Posit?"

I'm sorry, I...

I assumed that she was
walking up the stairs.

How did the blood
get onto the wall?

Up so high up there?

I don't know. Maybe she...

tried to get up,
and she fell again.

And all that blood splatter,
how do you figure that happened?

I don't know.
I don't know.

From the impact, I guess.

Hm.

And, sir, how long

between her fall
and your first 911 call?

I was outside
for a while,

so I-- I-- I don't know
when she fell.

So, you--
you found her, just like that,

when you came running in?

I didn't run.

Why would I run?

You see, sir,
what I don't understand is, um,

the blood on the steps
over there is already dry.

-It's been dry for a while.
-Look, my dad's already said

he doesn't know
when she fell, okay?

Don't make me have
to separate the two of you.

No, you're not gonna
separate the two of us!

And my dad's obviously in shock.
I'm not gonna leave him alone.

Yes, you are, son.

Who's the girl?

She's my date.

Maybe you ought
to take your date home.

We got the search warrant.

Search warrant?

For what?

So, what can you give us?

She fell.

It was an accident.

I'm sorry, Junior.

This here is a crime scene.

What if it was just an accident?

Have you ever seen
this much blood at an accident?

Uh, yeah.

I have.

Drive back over there.

- Oh, excuse me.
- I'm sorry.

- Hold on, ladies.
- It's our dad!

Dad, Dad, it's Martha.

-And Margaret.
-Dad!

Dad, look at me, please, Dad.

Dad, it's gonna be okay.

We're gonna get through this,
okay?

We will, together, as a family.

Dad?

I love you, Daddy.
It's gonna be okay.

Were you not
with your sisters that night?

I was at school, at Cornell.

I had been out all night.

And when I got back
to the sorority house,

mm, there were all
these messages on my...

answering machine.

My mom and I were really close.

And, um, Michael was--

is a great dad, step dad.

Well, I taught Caitlin to drive,

helped her with schoolwork,
history.

I taught her about
the politics of war.

- The politics of war?
- Mm-hm.

He was a Marine,
a war hero,

and he has medals and whatnot.

And, uh, he's really smart.

Well, war isn't just
what happens on the battlefield.

There's a--
There's a whole other level.

Unseen, the subtext.

He always encouraged me

to look at both sides
of the situation,

and that's what I'm trying
to do.

- Is that okay?
- That's great.

You're doing just fine.

I've never done this before.

What do you think happened?

Sorry?

That night.

What do you think happened?

Towards the sidewalk.

My poor baby.

Hey.

It's okay.

It's okay.

What are they doing?

It's a crime scene.

It's a vendetta.

Payback for Dad's
newspaper columns.

It's gonna be okay, honey.

They'll let us back in

as soon as they finish
with their...

investigation.

Let's go inside.

Clayton and your sisters
are waiting.

Hi.

Oh, thank you.

-Hi, Michael.
-Hey, Candace,

thanks for coming.
I am so, so sorry.

Thank you.

Candace, you remember
my brother, Bill, from Reno?

- Kathleen's sister.
- Hello, Candace.

-I'm so very sorry.
-Thank you.

- Hi, Aunt Candace.
- Hi, girls.

Caitlin.

- Accident?
- Absolutely.

Why don't we listen
to her side of the story?

The dead never lie.

So, Michael, what happened?

She fell.

Thanks, Clayton,
but, I'm...

I'm talking to your father.

She fell. She just...

fell.

Seven distinct
skull lacerations,

not in your preliminary report.

Hm, no skull fracture.

Which suggests a fall.

Possibly, but in her throat,
we have a fractured thyroid,

suggesting attempted
strangulation.

It could also be caused
by a fall,

depending on point of impact.

Possible. Not likely.
Look at her arms.

Defensive wounds.

Are you saying
that she was drunk,

and that's why
she fell down the stairs?

Well, she...

had a little too much wine, yes.

Aunt Candace,

we all know she drank too much.

Let's stop pretending.

Was it murder?

Well, it wasn't a fall.
Blunt-force trauma,

a metal object hard enough
to lacerate,

but not so hard
as to fracture the skull.

The pattern, it's...
it's like a pitchfork.

No, it wasn't a pitchfork.
And I can tell you,

it was a slow death,

-at least two hours.
-Wait a minute.

You're telling me
she was laying on the floor

for two hours,
bleeding to death?

And in horrible pain.

Can you dust for prints
on these?

- Yes, sir.
- All right.

No, it's too heavy.

You get hit
with one of these things,

it's a definite skull fracture.

Take a look at this,

two crystal wine glasses.

Neither has Mrs. Peterson's
fingerprints.

Really?

The husband says she was
drinking from one of them.

No, both have only
his fingerprints.

We have this bottle
of wine.

The drain reeks of alcohol.

We sprayed this floor
with Luminol.

Somebody tried to clean up
the bloody footprints.

You sure that's what went down?

That's what the evidence
suggests.

Huh.

Books on the O.J. Simpson case.

Interesting reading.

Research?

Well, the man is a writer.

Box of condoms.

No, two.
No, make that three.

Maybe he was having an affair.

I use condoms.
Am I having an affair?

Maybe they were on sale.
Check this out.

-Huh?
-Someone's been deleting emails.

-Can you retrieve them?
-I'm already on it.

Someone sure likes porn.

Porn?

Oh, hey!
How are you?

Hmm.

What happened
when the detectives returned?

They removed
Dad's computer,

his books, his files,
everything.

He's a writer.
How is he supposed to work?

They searched every inch
of the house and grounds.

They found nothing.

What a nightmare.

You know, my mom
was the first woman to graduate

from Duke University's
School of Engineering.

She was a top executive
at Nortel Networks.

She was a patron of the arts.

Everyone in town loved her.

If she didn't die by accident,
then...

how did she die? Why?

Did your mother
and Michael fight?

No...

Not really.

So, what did you do

when they finally let you
back in the house?

Caitlin?

What did you do
when the police

finally let you back
in the house?

Okay, I think
this one will look great here.

-It's perfect.
-Ah.

-You got it on the first try.
-Almost.

-It's just a little bit crooked.
-Is it?

-Uh-huh.
-Isn't it wonderful?

-I think it looks great.
-I love it.

Good job.

It is interesting to note

that over one million people
in the US

have been treated in hospitals
this year alone

due to slips on staircases.

Okay, you ready?

And three, two, one.

Hey.

-Hey.
-Brought you some cocoa.

Are you gonna stay in bed
all day?

'Til we go to the funeral home.

Honey, uh...

those viewings are more
for strangers, not family.

I'd prefer it
if you would stay here with us,

so we could have
our own memorial.

You're not going?

Well, I am.

You're coming to the funeral
home with me, right?

Dad asked us
to stay home tonight.

You should, too.
He needs us right now.

We know something
about losing a mother.

Our birth mother died
before I was three.

I was barely one,
and our birth father died

just after I was born.

So our mother
named Michael guardian.

He's the only...

He's the only father
we've known, really.

His first wife, Patty...

she was like a mom to us.

And after the divorce,

Kathleen was like another mom.

It just didn't feel like
we could handle

seeing her in a coffin,
you know?

I don't think
Caitlin understood that,

or even tried to.

Someone tried
to clean this, but, uh...

No one else
should touch this.

I'd like it boarded up
as evidence.

Are you sure about this guy?

He defended
the NFL player, Rae Carruth,

-charged with murder.
-Yeah, Carruth's in prison

doing ten years right now.

Not for first-degree
murder, he isn't.

He's serving for other charges.

I successfully defended him
on murder and the death penalty

using reasonable doubt.

That's my saving grace,
reasonable doubt?

I will represent you.

You'll need
a vigorous defense at trial.

Trial?

There haven't even been
any charges or indictments.

Oh, those will come.

You haven't even asked me
if I did it.

I never ask.

Well, if you were to ask me,
I'd tell you I was innocent.

The Durham police hate you
for what you wrote about them.

And you certainly wrote
some very nasty things

about the DA,
Jim Hardin, as well.

That is the good news.

And the bad?

This.

We believe
we have a lead

on a possible murder weapon.

It's a blow poke.

-A what?
-For the fireplace.

You blow in it,
get air into the fire.

It's kind of flimsy,
but it packs a punch.

It's just like the one
Mrs. Peterson's sister gave her.

It was kept by the fireplace,
but it's gone missing.

So, you're saying this is
what killed her

-and that he did it?
-Oh, he's the one.

But can we prove it?

Jim, this is
the same Peterson

who wrote that you only went
after underage voters

and bingo players
because you couldn't get

-any real bad guys.
-I know.

Good lord,
imagine if he had become mayor.

Find the blow poke.

Good evening, Mr. Peterson.
We have a warrant.

My family and I are grieving.

Our apologies.

We thought you'd be
at the funeral home right now.

So, you'd just break in?

Well, Mr. Peterson, we've come
to some conclusions--

A conclusion is the place
you get to

when you've stopped thinking.

She was a good woman.

Thanks.

I'm so sorry.

Thanks.

- God bless you.
- Thank you.

She doesn't seem real.

None of this seems real.

I really don't know
how to feel.

I honestly don't.

Come on.

You're gonna have
to pull yourself together.

- Mm-hm.
- Okay? You have to.

You're the administrator
of her estate.

Isn't my dad?

No, he's not.

And I've been speaking
with the Durham police.

-I think you should, too.
-Why?

Which way is it?
This room?

Thank you very much.

Dad.

Mr. Peterson!
Mr. Peterson!

In Durham,
North Carolina today,

a grand jury has handed down
a murder indictment

against novelist,
Michael Peterson.

Peterson has been charged

with the death of his wife,
Kathleen.

...will receive
a fair trial

with his negative relationship

with the Durham
Police Department?

The DA's case is based

on the flimsiest
of circumstantial evidence.

There's no motive.
There's no murder weapon.

There are no witnesses.
And why is that?

Because there was no murder.

I did not kill my wife.

I'm innocent.

I would never hurt Kathleen.

I whisper her name in my heart
a thousand times.

She's there forever.

And I can't stop crying.

Mr. Peterson!
Please, please,

one quick question.

With the best-selling
author's bail hearing pending,

maybe it's time to take
a closer look

at Michael Peterson.

In 1993,
he was charged with a DWI,

Driving While Intoxicated.

Then, there's the mystery of his two Purple Hearts,

something many say
cost him the mayor's election.

Now, he claims to have been
awarded two Purple Hearts,

but the military
has no record of them.

I've known Michael
for 13 years,

almost my entire life.

I love him.
He's my dad.

Why are you going after him?

Were you aware
that Michael and your mom

have 142,000
in credit card debt?

-What?
-And that they're spending

$100,000 a year
more than they take in?

There must be some mistake.
My dad's a best-selling author.

He bought the house.

He made $600,000--

And he hasn't made a dime since.

What about the Hollywood deal?

They're making a movie
out of his latest book.

There is no such deal.
We checked.

Look, your mother was stressed
out over money, over her job.

She had to lay off
a lot of people,

and she thought
that she was gonna be next.

I had to think of something
to calm her down.

And you figured lying to her
about a Hollywood movie deal

would make her feel better?

Have you been talking
to those detectives?

They're trying to drive a wedge
between us.

You know that, don't you?

When did you stop making money?

What has that
got to do with anything?

Just answer the question.

Do you know why
we had money problems?

We send you kids
to the best colleges,

buy you the best cars.

Life is very hard, Caitlin.

You have no idea
what we've gone through.

Your mother and I
were just trying

to be good parents,

trying to make you happy.

Is that such a terrible thing?

Time's up, Peterson.

Let's go.

Kathleen Peterson
had both alcohol and Valium

in her system that night,

which any reasonable person
might conclude

contributed to her fall.

But even if it were possible

that her injuries
were not accidental,

the DA and the police
have rushed to judgment,

not even bothering to consider

that an intruder
may have been responsible.

Your Honor, the Petersons
had the ideal marriage.

To believe he killed his wife

is to believe
that he went from loving spouse

to premeditated murderer
overnight,

and that just strains credulity
to the breaking point.

Michael Peterson
was released today

on an $850,000 bail.

After surrendering his passport,

Peterson left
the Durham courthouse,

accompanied by his family,
and returned to his home

in the exclusive community
of Forest Hills.

His trial date is set for May.

We love you, Dad.

Kathleen Atwater?

Kathleen Atwater.
I'm looking for my mother,

Kathleen Atwater.

Oh, my God, Mom.
What happened to you?

Oh,
I just miscalculated

when I dove into
the swimming pool.

You dove in?
You never dive in.

You always wade in.

This time I dove.
Never again.

Were you drunk?

Of course not.

Thank you for believing in me.

- Ah, Michael.
- David.

Evening.
This is my investigator,

- Alan Crane.
- Marines, right?

-Semper Fi, do or die.
-I can always tell.

And this is
Erica Azaria.

She's the filmmaker
I told you about.

-Mr. Peterson, a pleasure.
-How do you do?

- Very well, thank you.
- Actually won an award

last year at a festival.
Which one was it?

-It was Divia, actually.
-Oh, well, congratulations.

-Thank you.
-So, she'd like to do a film

about this case as a study
of the US justice system.

Well, that's going to be
a problem.

-Why?
-Because this case

has absolutely
nothing to do with justice.

My last film
was on the US penal system.

When I read about your case,

I thought it would be
a natural companion piece.

Well, now, that depends
on your point of view.

Do you think
I'm innocent or guilty?

Innocent, aren't you?

Well, I think a documentary
might be a good idea.

I mean,
camera doesn't lie, right?

Hey, would you mind
spotting me?

- Hey, no problem.
- Thanks.

You got it.

So, who is this guy again?

Says he knows a lot
about Peterson.

Uh-huh.

Morning.

I'm David Rudolf.

This whole case,
it's a diversion.

It's a show.
I'm being victimized here.

Why doesn't the media
focus on--

I'll get it.

Could--
could I just start again?

-If you please.
-Thank you.

This whole case is a diversion.

It's a show.

I'm being victimized here.

Why doesn't the media focus
on the city's real problems?

I mean, the DA came
into office

making all sorts of promises,
none of them fulfilled.

Corruption, theft, lies.

That is the story of Durham.

David!
Hey, listen, we have some...

- Hi, David.
- ...wonderful al dente pasta

and a great pinot noir.
Would you, uh--

Uh, actually, if I could, uh,
just get a--

a word with you alone
would probably be best.

- Uh--
- Truly alone.

But David, we--
we did promise total access.

-I-- I--
-Of course we did.

Then, could we step
in the other room?

-Sorry to interrupt, really.
-Oh, sure.

Thanks.

So, what's up?

Well, you failed to mention
to me that you're gay.

I'm not.

Had a meeting with a man
who said last year

the two of you were lovers.

Lovers?
Come on, who is this man?

Can you give us a minute?
Seriously.

No, no, that's all right.

Stay. I--
I've got nothing to hide.

Okay. Aside from that man,

the DA was kind enough
to give me these photos

that were found
on your computer.

Uh, how could you not be gay,

uh, and have relationships
with men?

I don't have relationships
with men.

I have sex with them.
There's a difference.

Besides semantics,
there's a difference?

I'm bisexual, David.

It has nothing to do
with the case.

-No, no, you are the case.
-But my sexuality isn't.

I stood in front of a judge

and talked about
this great marriage you had.

It was.

Kathleen knew about me.
She did.

She understood me.

It wasn't about
my not loving her, or--

or loving her any less;
I loved her more because of it.

We had a passionate life
together.

Okay. Well, that's helpful.

I'm just afraid
that this being the South,

your being bisexual
is going to damage the case.

So, what do we do?

Well, the DA is gonna have
a field day with this,

so we're gonna have to do
exactly what you're doing now,

which is to be upfront about it,
shrug it off,

treat it as inconsequential.

But I need to know that
you're telling me everything.

David,
I'm telling you everything.

As I said, I have nothing
to hide.

Okay.

Have you told your family?

I think that's enough
for tonight. Thank you, Erica.

Okay.

So, it's--
it's really not that unusual.

In ancient Rome,

sex between soldiers
was encouraged

to ensure battlefield loyalty.

And the Greeks
had a belief that--

Stop it!
You're embarrassing yourself.

Were you having an affair?

No, Caitlin,
I was not having an affair.

No, no, it's okay.

She just needs some time.

Let's talk about your
brother's sexuality, shall we?

And why is that such a big deal?

I knew about it.
So did our parents.

Uh, when Michael was a teenager
he told us.

This case isn't about that,
okay?

Honey, goodness.

He's a liar.

He's manipulative,
and he's promiscuous.

The police showed me
those emails.

What emails?

The ones that he tried to get
rid of the night she died.

Emails to and from all the boys
that he meets at the gym.

That's why he spends
so much time there.

I know what happened that night.

I know my sister would
never have tolerated

such a thing in her marriage.
Never.

She confronted him.
They argued.

And he killed her.

Uh, I'm not sure. I just--

I don't see him as a murderer.
I'm sorry, I don't.

Are you sure?

Yes, she needs to see it.

Autopsy report
and photos.

God.

Oh, my God.

How can that be from a fall?

It could--

It can't.

It can't. Oh, God.

There's someone here to see you.

Don't you think you need to be
with your family right now?

Aunt Candace is family.

You know what I mean.

Can you leave us alone
for a second?

Caitlin, Dad needs us with him
right now.

He really needs our support.

I need some time on my own.

Fine. Whatever you need.

Just make sure and be

at the house tomorrow
for a TV interview.

A TV interview?

I don't think so.

Caitlin, what--
what's gotten into you?

Nothing.

He's making a movie
about all this.

Isn't that kind of weird?

He's telling his secrets
to the whole world.

Don't tell me
you're homophobic, Caitlin.

No! But don't tell me
that you haven't wondered

for just one second if,
you know, he actually did it.

Caitlin, don't do this.

We're a family.

We need a common front here.

There can be no desertions,
Caitlin. This is war.

Do you ever actually listen
to yourself?

So, all five of
you kids stand by your father?

Absolutely, we're a family.

And we're gonna get through this
as a family.

And how's your dad holding up
through all of this?

He's good.

He's obviously having a tough
time with this,

as are all of us, but he's doing the best he can.

Clayton has his girlfriend
with him to make it seem

like we're all there
supporting Dad.

- God.
- This is so Michael.

...without a doubt...

And then there's this.

Todd's the family
spokesperson now.

He said that you were
too distraught

to participate in the interview.

...all very, very tight
and supportive of one another.

What do you want
to know about Michael Peterson?

Hi.

Is your aunt here?

No, but she'll be back
any minute.

May I come in?

Wow...

the police have destroyed
my family.

It's always about you, isn't it?

No, it isn't, Caitlin.

I've always loved you
as if you were my own child.

And after the hell
you went through

with your parents' divorce,
I was the--

There's no cameras around.
You can stop acting.

What do you want?

The estate attorney
sent me these.

And it's a bill
for funeral expenses, and....

I can't afford it, Caitlin.

And I never wanted a burial.
I always wanted cremation.

So did your mom.

And we didn't pick
that cemetery.

You and your aunt did.

And this is a bill
from a florist.

It's-- It's $800 charged
to my credit card,

without my approval.

Are you aware
she never signed

the beneficiary designation?

Her life insurance,
the 1.4 million.

The papers designating you
as sole beneficiary?

They were filled out,

but she never
actually signed them.

That means no matter
what happens in court,

you get nothing.

Why are you doing this to me?

I'd hate to be
running right now.

- Hey.
- I'll see you guys later, okay?

Hey,
how are you doing?

-Doing okay?
-What do you want?

I wanted to talk to you.
Look, I don't know

if anyone showed you
the autopsy reports

-or Mom's photos--
-Dad told us not to bother.

He says what's in the report
isn't true.

Look, she has over 38 injuries.

Thirty eight, Margaret.

To her head, face, hands,
back, and wrists.

How do you get all that

-from falling down the stairs?
-Will you put that away please?

We all knew
that Michael had a temper.

Dad says he'll be exonerated.

You're on the wrong side,
Caitlin.

-I didn't know there were sides.
-There are.

We were a family,
but you walked out on us.

-Margaret, can't you see?
-Yeah, I can see.

And what I see
is you being brainwashed

by a bunch of corrupt cops.

You know what Dad calls
those cops in Durham?

Idiots.

And you know what he calls you?

A traitor, a hypocrite.

And we all feel same the way.

Shame on you, Caitlin.

Shame on you.

- Morning.
- Morning.

Hi, I'm Laura Baxter,
and I'm a jury consultant.

And you're my mock jury.

Now today,
I'm going to be presenting you

various facts and perspectives
on the Michael Peterson case.

And all I ask is that
you respond as frankly

and as honestly as possible.

Well, I don't think that, uh...

One guy hates
that Peterson's a vet

who lied about receiving
a Purple Heart.

Another says that being a liar
doesn't make you a murderer.

-Uh-huh.
-And half the women believe

that just because
you get caught cheating

doesn't mean you're a killer.

What about cheating
with another man?

That guy there said he'd kill
to cover a secret like that.

So what does all this
add up to?

Lack of consensus.

-It's a gift.
-Hmm.

So, Michael's lying.
When did that start?

Look,

I'm just trying to paint
a complete portrait

of your brother,
and that is part of it.

Well, try painting this.

Eighteen years ago,
he took on the responsibility

of raising the two girls
of a friend who passed away.

Who was their mother?

Elizabeth Ratliff,

a friend when Mike and Patty
lived in Germany.

She died of
a cerebral hemorrhage

and entrusted her kids
to my brother.

How many men that would do
such a thing?

No witness,
no murder weapon,

maybe not even a motive.

What we do have

- is reasonable doubt.
- Mm-hm.

And I'm sure David Rudolf
must love that.

Excuse me.

I-- I think your receptionist
went to lunch.

May I talk to you?
You're Mr. Hardin, right?

-Yes, ma'am.
-Miss Black?

That's right. And you are?

Margaret Blair
from Rhode Island.

Elizabeth Ratliff's sister.

Margaret and Martha's aunt.

Yes, of course.
Please, have a seat.

Excuse the mess, Ma'am.

What-- What can I do for you,
Mrs. Blair?

Well, whenever Michael
or the girls

mentions my sister's death,

they say she died
of cerebral hemorrhage.

Well, didn't she?

Maybe, but they never say
where her body was found.

And where was that?

My sister was found dead
at the bottom of a staircase.

And the last person
to see her alive was Michael.

Oh, he called and said
all the right things.

He was sorry for my loss.

He said she fell and that
there was very little blood,

just a little behind the ear.

-That wasn't true.
-How do you know that?

I got a photo
from the German police.

And you didn't ask why?

Of course I did.

They said
it was an accidental death,

that the case was closed.

An accident.

Hmm.

Good Lord almighty.

"Invitation to the Dance."

Kathleen loved this piece.

David!

You know the doorbell
does work.

Forgive me
for allowing myself in.

Erica, can you guys
take a dinner break, please?

There something about the case
you don't want us to hear?

I need to speak with Michael
privately,

and I would greatly appreciate
if, for once,

you would respect that.
Thank you.

All right, let's cut.

Anything else
you haven't told me?

I beg your pardon?

Your wife is found dead
at the bottom of this staircase.

Your friend, Elizabeth Ratliff,
is found dead

at the bottom of that one.

You think the DA might find that
just a tad peculiar?

I did not kill Elizabeth.

Convince me.

In the early 1980s

my first wife, Patty, and I
were living near Frankfurt.

She was teaching
at the US base there,

and I was writing
my first novel.

George and Elizabeth Ratliff
were neighbors.

He was in the Air Force.

They had two baby girls,
Margaret and Martha.

George was being shipped out
to Grenada

for the US invasion,
and we were worried.

I was trying to get him
to request a leave,

you know,
having just had a baby,

but that wasn't George.

He said if anything
happened to him,

Liz and the girls would be well taken care of.

That was George.

He always said that God
is in the details.

George died in Grenada.

He died
of a heart attack,

and there were traces
of cyanide found in his blood.

I know.

He had a heart condition
for which he took medication,

-and there was speculation--
-That someone tampered

with his medicine
before he left for his mission.

The operative word
being speculation.

Were you and George having sex?

No.

What about you
and Elizabeth?

No.

So, the night she died...

That was two years later.

It was in November. There'd been an early snowfall,

and Elizabeth had dinner
with Patty and me.

And then I walked her home.

- Did you go inside?
- No.

- You're sure?
- I walked her home,

and then I went back
to my house.

The next morning, Patty was
making breakfast for the boys.

I'd been up late writing,

and that's when Elizabeth's
nanny rushed in, hysterical.

She was crying so much
that it was hard to understand

a word she was saying.

She'd found Elizabeth
on the staircase.

- Did you love her?
- Yes,

but not in the way
that you think.

We were soul mates.

How'd your wife
feel about that?

-Patty?
-Yes.

Patty was a sensible woman.
And Elizabeth was not sensible.

That's what I liked about her.
She was just, uh...

a great person.

But she was having these
terrible headaches.

And I tried to get her
to go see a doctor.

But she just dismissed it
as stress-related.

I wish that I'd insisted.

She had a cerebral hemorrhage.

But all that blood
on the staircase.

Yes, she had a condition

that was called
Willebrand's disease.

It's not unlike hemophilia.

Okay.

Thank you.

I guess I'll be going
to Germany.

Well, there's a vote
of confidence.

Both the German and the US
military autopsy reports

back up everything
I just told you.

I did not kill
Elizabeth Ratliff.

And if I'm going
to convince a jury of that,

-I'll need to go to Germany.
-Well, then I'm going with you.

They took away your passport.
No. You're not.

Well, then, I'll send Clayton.

I'm not gonna have Patty
dealing with this on her own.

Let's jump over here.

David Rudolf,
Alan Crane,

-this is my mother, Patricia.
-Nice to meet you.

Hi, it's Patty.
Welcome to Germany.

Hello. I'm Erica Azaria.

Just pretend we're not here
and try not to look

-at the camera.
-Oh, okay.

Um, I just baked some cookies.
Want some?

-Uh...
-Mrs. Peterson,

-we can't hear you.
-Patty.

Mm, let me just...

There, and remember,
please don't look at the camera.

Oh, okay.
Um, I'll start again.

Um, I just baked cookies.
Want some?

Actually, if we could just see
the home Elizabeth

-was living in.
-Oh, of course.

Uh, the woman who lived there
gave me the keys

so we can take as much time
as we like.

Okay, thank you.

So...

this...

is how we found her.

Like this.

And most of the blood was...

Oh, there wasn't any blood.

You still love Michael?

He's the father of my sons.

You don't just
stop loving someone.

Did you know he was bisexual?

Are you sure you wouldn't like
another cookie?

I'm sure.

Was he involved with Elizabeth?

No.

He was like a brother to her.

Was he having sex with George?

No.

Do you think he had anything
to do with George's death?

Aren't you supposed to be
defending my father?

Why did you and Michael leave
Germany and return to the US?

It was his idea.

We had Elizabeth's girls
and our sons,

and he felt it would be easier
to raise them in Durham.

'Course that's where Michael
met Kathleen.

Yet you still love him?

Would you lie for him
to get him back?

No.

How much did Michael get
from Elizabeth's estate?

It wasn't much.

That money was for the girls.

Maybe 30, 40 grand.

That's all?

Mm-hm. Yeah.

...and
48 degrees here in Durham.

It's eight o'clock,
and here's our top story.

Citibank
has filed a claim against

Kathleen Peterson's estate
for credit card debt.

The amount is reported to be
over $100,000.

Husband, Michael Peterson,
is awaiting trial

on the alleged murder.

Since I'm paying for this,

I didn't think you'd mind
my waiting here.

You didn't pay for this.
Never did.

My mother paid for this.

Honey, this...

airing of your mother's
financial dirty laundry is...

It's inappropriate.

Actually,
it's your dirty laundry.

I'll tell you what.

You settle this thing
with Citibank,

and I won't go to the police
to report $100,000

worth of jewelry
and clothing missing

from Kathleen's closet, okay?

I've already filed the papers
with the estate.

There's nothing missing
except for my mother.

And I don't really think
that you're

gonna go to the Durham cops

that you have been calling
a bunch of idiots.

Caitlin, I'm your father.

No, Michael, you are not.

Aunt Candace?

Can you give me the number
to that lawyer?

When I learned about Caitlin's

wrongful death lawsuit
against me, my reaction...

was a broken heart.

The police have chosen...

to provide Caitlin
with only part of the evidence,

which has resulted
in this precipitous action.

I feel sorry for Caitlin's pain,

for the loss of her mother.

But I also feel sorry
for my other children, who--

having lost their mother...

have now lost a sister as well.

"See what the scourge
is laid upon your hate,

that Heaven finds means
to kill your joys with love.

And I, for winking
at your discords, too,

have lost a brace of kinsman.

All are punish'd.

All are punish'd."

I am sorry that you've
come all this way,

but as I tell Mr. Rudolf,
we stand by our report.

Mrs. Ratliff died
of accidental death.

Well, we feel that we can prove
that her death was a homicide,

and a judge will allow it
at trial.

Under 404B, which covers
providing proof

-of a similar crime.
-Or revealing a pattern

of criminal behavior,
uh, of murder.

Yeah, I understand,
but this was not a homicide.

Perhaps, if her remains
indicate otherwise,

-we could reopen this file.
-Her remains?

Her body's been buried
in the ground for 18 years.

Precisely.

-Good night.
-Good night.

Another dead body
has surfaced in Peterson's life.

Another woman lied dead
at the foot of the stairs,

that being Elizabeth Ratliff
over one decade ago.

I just couldn't believe it

when Dad sat us down
and told us.

It just seemed so wrong,
you know,

exhuming our mother's remains.

Dad's lawyer said
that if a new autopsy proves

she died of natural causes,
it'll help exonerate him.

They had to get our permission.

I just didn't think it'd have
such an impact on us, you know?

What if the DA offered you
a plea?

Would you take it?

Put an end to this
for the family, for yourself.

Michael, I'm scared for you.

I don't wanna end up in prison.

What happened with Elizabeth?

You told her sister, me,
all of us,

there was just a bit
of blood behind her ear.

Why'd you lie?

What would you've
preferred I said?

That she was found dead
in a pool of blood,

twisted around like a--
like a damned pretzel?

Well, what are they gonna find
when they open that coffin?

What do you think?

She's been in the ground
for 18 years.

All they'll find
is a bunch of bones.

How were we to know a body

could be that well preserved
after that much time?

It scared the hell out of me.

Aren't you concerned
about what they might find

in the autopsy?

No. Not at all.

Do you play poker,
Mr. Rudolf?

Because I do believe some people
would call that a poker face.

Contusions to the left hand,
left forearm.

Defensive wounds?

Huh, yeah.

Maybe.

Linear fracture
at the base of the skull,

lacerations.

Let's look at the brain.

- Hi, Patty.
- Hey.

Oh, thank you so much.

You didn't have to send
a limo to the airport.

-I could've taken a bus.
-Don't be silly.

You're the mother of my boys.

It just means so much for me
to have you here.

Mm, I'm just glad I could help.

Please, don't look
at the camera, Mrs. Peterson.

Do you really expect a jury
to be swayed by this...

cartoon of Kathleen
falling down the stairs?

-Judas Priest!
-Calm down, Michael.

No, I won't calm down.

I mean, how much is this thing
going to cost me?

As much as that--
that mock trial?

Really?

I mean,
what am I spending on this?

To go to trial, conservatively,
it will cost you about $800,000.

Well,
you wanted to know

what the United States system
of justice is about.

Well, this is what it's about.
It's about money.

I mean, we wouldn't even be
going to trial

if it weren't
for Caitlin and Candace.

-Michael!
-I don't care. Let 'em hear it.

I don't care!

Michael, this animation
was created

by a biomechanics specialist.

It accurately reflects what
we say happened on the stairway.

Well, that may all be
very well and good, David,

but it-- it has no emotion.

None!

He's right, David.

Okay, fine.

You want me to put
you on the stand?

Is that what this is about?

It's your call, your right.

But what if the DA
somehow gets you

to lose your temper,
or goes off on some tangent

about your bisexuality,

or asks you under oath
to outline your distinctions

between sex and love?
What happens then?

Does that help our case?

Please understand,
your life is not in my hands.

It's in the hands
of the 12 good citizens

of Durham, North Carolina.
They decide.

So, you need to decide
one of two things.

Either trust me to do my job,
or hire someone else.

And please, if you do,

trust them to do their job.

I am ruling the death
of Elizabeth Ratliff

a homicidal assault.

As you can see, the scalp shows
lacerations similar

to the ones suffered
by Kathleen Peterson.

Clearly, ladies and gentlemen,

there were
two murders committed.

- Any questions?
- Would you issue

a coroner's report?

What tipped you off
about...

And now the specter
has risen that a Germany case

will be reopened as to the death

of Michael Peterson's
family friend,

Elizabeth Ratliff,
over one decade ago.

Mr. Peterson!
Mr. Peterson!

Mr. Peterson!
Mr. Peterson!

Hey, Caitlin! Caitlin!

Do you have a statement for us,
Caitlin?

I can respect that people have

their own belief
as to what happened.

But I have faith in the evidence

that will convict Michael
Peterson.

Good morning to each of you.

Good morning.

This was Kathleen Peterson,

full of life, beautiful.

We're told she and her husband
had an ideal marriage.

But, ladies and gentlemen,

this case is all about pretense
and appearances.

Now, the defense says
what happened to her

was an accident.

We say its murder,

at the hands of Michael Peterson
with this.

It's called a blow poke.

And this is an exact replica
of the murder weapon.

Kathleen kept it next
to the fireplace.

But it mysteriously disappeared.

Now, this...

This is the Kathleen Peterson
the EMT unit found

when they arrived at her home
on December 9th, 2001.

Accident or murder?

You decide.

And when you arrived
at the Peterson home that night,

what was one of the first things
you noticed?

Apart from the fact that the
body was in perfect alignment?

Yes, apart from that.

Well, I noticed that some

of the blood on the stairs

- had already dried.
- Already dried?

How peculiar.

And, uh, what did that
suggest to you, Detective?

It suggested that the victim
had died much earlier

and that the scene
had been staged.

Please explain
what you mean by staged.

Durham 911,
where's your emergency?

1810 Cedar, please.

What's wrong, sir?

My wife's had an accident.
She's still breathing!

What kind of accident?

She fell down the stairs.
She's still breathing!

On the night
you arrived at his home,

were you aware that this was
the same Michael Peterson

that had written
newspaper columns

-critical of the police force?
-Yes.

Well, they were more
than critical, weren't they?

Let me see if I can-- Ah!

"It would not be an exaggeration
to call our police force

a laughing stock for they solve

a mere five percent
of reported crimes."

-Do you remember that one?
-Yes.

So, is it fair that there may
have been some police bias

towards Mr. Peterson?

You could put it that way.

Could you also put it
that you and other officers

conspired to exact revenge
on Mr. Peterson

-the night his wife died?
-Objection.

Sustained.

Moving on.

You and the DA contend that

the defendant murdered
his wife using, uh,

what did you call it,
a blow poke?

Yes.

And after exhaustive
searching of his home

and the entire property,

were you ever able to find
this alleged murder weapon?

- No.
- No?

No murder weapon?
Not anywhere?

Could it be
that there was no murder?

Objection.

Withdrawn.

I have a letter
you wrote a while back

in which you referred
to your sister's relationship

with her husband,
Michael Peterson,

as perfect.

Right there. "Perfect."

You also went on to say
that their marriage

was loving and healthy
and respectful.

Next photo, please.

You recognize this photo?

Yes, it's the fireplace
in my sister's living room.

It was taken in 1999. Do you see
a blow poke by the fireplace?

- No.
- No?

And yet you said under oath
that you remember seeing

the blow poke by the fireplace

as recent as last year.
Isn't that what you told the DA?

Yes. And there was.

Really? Next photo.

Recognize this one?

That photo was taken in 2000.

Do you see a blow poke
by the fireplace?

No.

No, because the truth is,
the blow poke

hasn't been anywhere near
the fireplace in years.

-Isn't that right?
-No, it was there last year.

Right. So then, where is it?

Where?

Where?

Agent Deaver, you told the court
that five blood drops

found near the stairwell
were caused by

someone swinging
an object back in an arc.

-Uh, did I get that right?
-Yes.

Uh, look at the defendant
if you would, please, Agent.

He's five-foot-eleven.

Now, if he were to swing
a fireplace poker,

or some such instrument,

where you say he did,
right here,

wouldn't it hit the molding
of the door frame

leading to the stairwell?

It is possible.

And yet, the police
reported no such markings.

- That is correct.
- Now, are you aware

that the world-famous
forensics expert, Dr. Henry Lee,

reviewed your work
and determined that the scene

is not consistent
with a beating?

Um, no. I was not aware of that.

No. Were you aware that, uh,
he felt the--

the state's handling
of the forensics in this case

-are utterly incompetent?
-Objection.

Withdrawn.

Happy Birthday!

♪ And many more♪

Happy Birthday.

Happy Birthday,
Uncle Bill.

- Happy Birthday.
- Come on, make a wish.

Hello. Yeah. Yeah.

The DA's calling
Brent Wolgamott

as a witness
giving him immunity.

Hardin can't get a conviction
with the evidence,

so he's gonna create some drama
with this Brent.

-Well, who is Brent?
-You know him as Brad,

the male prostitute.

Why didn't you tell me
about this guy?

The state calls
as its next witness,

Brent Wolgamott.

At the time,
I was on active duty

at Fort Bragg, and charging
150 an hour as an escort,

using the name Brad.

Uh, my clients
were mostly doctors, lawyers,

and a few judges.

Not this judge.

What types of services
did you offer as a prostitute?

I prefer the term
"male escort."

Okay.

What types of services
did you offer as a male escort?

Ooh, just about anything
under the sun, safely,

-I might add.
-Good to know.

And how did you connect
with Michael Peterson?

Over the Internet.
It's...

how I met all my clients,
from my website.

So, you and he exchanged emails.

-Yes.
-Discussing what, precisely?

Well, basically
what kind of sex

-we were going to have.
-And what kind of sex

were you and Mr. Peterson
going to have?

Can I say it?

Anal sex.

Thank you.

Just so everyone
is clear,

you and Michael Peterson
never actually met.

-Is that right?
-That is correct.

So, you never had sex?

That's right. We never did.

And in these email exchanges,

did he ever talk
about his marriage?

Yes, he said that he had
a great marriage.

And that he had a lot of warmth
and affection for his wife.

And when did these emails end?

September 5th, 2001.

So, the two of you never met.

And all communication stopped
in September of 2001.

And what do you know about
the death of Kathleen Peterson

in December of 2001?

I know diddley.

I take it that means "nothing?"

I know nothing. Zip.

So, then,
why are you here?

I don't know.

I trust that you do.

Are we dead?

No, we're not dead,
just wounded.

The prosecution has rested.
Tomorrow, is our turn.

Get some rest. We'll get 'em.

So, what do you think?
How's it going?

Great. Tomorrow's the big day.

Well, I guess that was it.

He's bisexual!
He watches hardcore porn.

I saw the emails,
the photos on the computer.

My God, how long has this
been going on?

I don't hate you, Michael.

But I want a divorce.
I want a divorce.

Do you swear
to tell the truth...

the whole truth,
and nothing but?

I do.

Dr. Henry Lee has been flown in

to testify
for the defense in this case,

the defense
for Michael Peterson.

As you all know, he is on trial

for the murder of his wife,
Kathleen.

Remember the infamous
O.J. Simpson case?

Where do you go?
Where do you run?

To Dr. Henry Lee.

Ten thousand pieces of
blood splatter can't be wrong.

You must look at the totality.

You can't look at just one
isolated pattern.

So, Dr. Lee,
in your expert opinion,

what caused this blood splatter?

In my opinion, Mrs. Peterson
coughing up blood.

Would you like me
to demonstrate?

Yes, I would.

Your Honor, this is ketchup.

Here we are.

See? Oh, I think I got a bit
of ketchup on your suit.

Oops, sorry.

If you believed
that Mrs. Peterson

coughed up blood and that's
what caused the spatter

then why didn't you test
the supposed

blood aspiration spatter
for saliva, sir?

It's not my job.

If your local officials
did their job properly,

then I don't have to be here.

As Peterson's defense team
winds down its case,

pundits are predicting
a hung jury,

saying things would be different if the police had only produced

the murder weapon.

A trial is a lot like sex,

all this buildup, friction,

back and forth, aggression,
submission,

control.

I'm on top. You're on top.

Well,
that's a unique perspective.

Mm-hm. It is.

I've been giving it
a lot of thought.

In fact, I'm thinking about
writing a book on all this.

- Are you really?
- Mm-hm.

You know, it's gonna be
a fascinating film,

this documentary of yours.

Just...

...don't make me look
too awful, okay?

Just try to be fair.

I'm always fair.

I know. I trust you, Erica.

And this film, your film,

it's gonna be my only legacy,

my only truth.

Sorry, just want
to let you know we're leaving

for the night.

Thank you. Have a good night.

The blow poke,

what you and the DA have
described as the murder weapon.

Did you ever think to ask us

-if we had located it?
-No.

You just figured it was gone?

-Gone... or put up somewhere.
-Really?

Please tell the court what it is

you're now holding
in your hands.

- A blow poke.
- Not just a blow poke,

the blow poke found
by his two sons

in the Peterson's garage
last night,

where it has been all along.

Detective, have you ever given
any thought to what might happen

to an item like this
if it were actually used

to beat someone to death?

- Probably be marked up.
- Precisely.

See any dents on this one?

A little, tiny indentation
of any kind?

- No.
- No.

Blood? Hair?

Anything other than cobwebs,

-dead insects and dirt?
-No.

Thank you.

And suddenly,
all this time later,

lo and behold,
just the eve before

the defense wraps its case,

voila, they produce
another poker.

-What do you make of it?
-Uh, maybe it's like,

uh, Mr. Peterson said all along
that the police in Durham

just can't investigate a crime.

-Do you have more of this?
-Lots.

Erica, why don't you come on

over here and have a glass
of wine with us?

Why don't you guys quit
for the day, relax?

Mm-hm.
You don't wanna miss this.

-Thank you.
-Mm-hm.

- So, David.
- Yes?

This blow poke business.

A rather convenient
11th-hour discovery.

Oh, the truth is the truth.

I mean, Clayton and Todd
found it, called me right away.

You were there in the garage

when we saw it
for the first time.

-It's all on tape.
-Still, some people think

-it was planted.
-Yes, of course, they would.

Kathleen Peterson
had no concussion

or swelling of the brain.
What does that tell you?

And this year, uh, in the city,

there were 162 cases
of blunt-force trauma,

all of which had concussions
and swelling.

What does that tell you?

That their whole case is based
on circumstantial evidence.

And now, the murder weapon
has been thrown out,

and I think that's what
the jury's going to do

with this entire case.
Throw it out.

Mark my words.

You want to gloat, don't you?

Me? No, of course, not.

Go on. They've put you
and your family

through bloody hell.

Gloat.

Her camera's down,
give it a shot.

All right. I'll gloat a little.

Has the jury reached
a verdict?

Yes, we have, Your Honor.

We, the 12 members of the jury
unanimously find the defendant,

Michael Iver Peterson,

guilty of first-degree murder.

Mr. Peterson,

do you have a statement
you'd like to make?

Anything you wish to say?

It's okay.

It's okay.

It's okay.

Michael Peterson,

this court hereby sentences you
to mandatory life in prison

without parole.

This court
stands adjourned.

You knew, didn't you?

That he used to beat
your mom, right?

Yet you never told anyone.
Do you think justice was served?

True justice would be
having my mother

back here with me.

Failing that, yes.

Don't you?

What?

You still believe he's innocent?

I don't know what to believe.

Cut. We're done here.

It's pretty bad in here.

I filed the papers
for the appeal.

And as I mentioned,
these things take time. Years.

-What do you suggest I do?
-Request protective custody.

What about the film?

Erica sold it to some network.

-Which one?
-Does it matter?

Yes, absolutely.

That's all I've got left.

We did it!

Hurry up, Caitlin!

Just give me a second.
I'm just gonna change.

"See, what a scourge
is laid upon your hate,

that Heaven finds means
to kill your joys with love.

And I, for winking
at your discords, too,

have lost a brace of kinsmen.

All are punish'd.

A glooming peace this morning
with it brings.

The sun for sorrow will not show his head.

Go, hence, to have more talk
of these sad things.

Some shall be pardon'd,
and some punish'd.

For never was a story
of more woe

than this of Juliet
and her Romeo."