NC v. PETERSON (2003)

Michael Peterson is on trial for the 2001 death of his wife, Kathleen. Her body was found at the bottom of a staircase in the couple’s Durham home. Prosecutors allege he killed Kathleen to get her $1.4 million life insurance policy. The defense argues Kathleen fell and struck her head twice at the bottom of the staircase after a night of drinking with her husband.

NC v. Michael Peterson: The Staircase Murder Trial

A man holds a photo as he addresses the court. 1-NC v. Peterson: Opening Statements
A paramedic stands next to a diagram 2-NC v. Peterson: James Rose
A paramedic testifies in court. 3-NC v. Peterson: James Rose PT2
A man in a suit testifies in court. 4-NC v. Peterson: Ron Paige
Fire Captain Gary Paschal takes the stand in Michael Peterson's murder trial. 5-NC v. Peterson: Cpt. Gary Paschal
Firefighter Jason Crank takes the stand in Michael Peterson's murder trial. 6-NC v. Peterson: Jason Crank
Catherine Kaiser of Nortel Networks, where Kathleen worked, takes the stand in Michael Peterson's murder trial. 7-NC v. Peterson: Catherine Kaiser
A woman in a red collared shirt testifies 8-NC v. Peterson: Kim Barker
An attorney questions a witness in court 9-NC v. Peterson: Agent Raymond Young
Helen Prislinger, who worked with Kathleen Peterson at Nortel Networks, takes the stand in Michael Peterson's murder trial. 10-NC v. Peterson: Helen Prislinger
The number $142,728.00 is projected 11-NC v. Peterson: Agent Raymond Young PT2
Raymond Young testifies in court 12-NC v. Peterson: Agent Raymond Young PT3
NCSBI Agent Raymond Young concludes his testimony in Michael Peterson's murder trial. 13-NC v. Peterson: Agent Raymond Young PT4
A woman cries in court 14-NC v. Peterson: The 911 Call
Durham police Cpl. J.C. McDowell takes the stand in Michael Peterson's murder trial. 15-NC v. Peterson: Cpl. J.C. McDowell
Two people sit in the gallery during a trial 16-NC v. Peterson: Cpl. Scott Kershaw
Sgt. Terry Wilkins testifies in court 17-NC v. Peterson: Sgt. Terry Wilkins
a woman and a police officer approach diagram in court 18-NC v. Peterson: Sgt. Terry Wilkins PT2
Officer James McVay testifies in court 19-NC v. Peterson: Officer James McVay
Sgt. Fran Borden testifies in court 20-NC v. Peterson: Sgt. Fran Borden
Sgt. Fran Borden continues testifying in court 21-NC v. Peterson: Sgt. Fran Borden PT2
Durham police Sgt. Emmanuel Paschall takes the stand in Michael Peterson's murder trial. 22-NC v. Peterson: Sgt. Emmanuel Paschall
A woman with white glasses stands in court 23-NC v. Peterson: Officer A.D. McCallup
24-NC v. Peterson: Officer Steven Hester, Officer Trent Hall & Cpl. Kim Gregory
Forensic meteorologist William Haggard takes the stand outside the presence of the jury in Michael Peterson's trial. 25-NC v. Peterson: OPJ: William Haggard
attorney raises his hand in court 26-NC v. Peterson: Lt. Connie Bullock
A man in a suit testifies in court 27-NC v. Peterson: John Huggard
a photo shows a flight of wooden interior stairs 28-NC v. Peterson: Dan George
A witness holds a bag on the witness stand 29-NC v. Peterson: Dan George PT2
cloth items appear folded 30-NC v. Peterson: Dan George PT3
Dan George undergoes cross-examination in Michael Peterson's murder trial. 31-NC v. Peterson: Dan George PT4
photo shows a tiled kitchen floor 32-NC v. Peterson: Dan George PT5
Dan George continues his testimony in Michael Peterson's murder trial. 33-NC v. Peterson: Dan George PT6
papers and a microphone 34-NC v. Peterson: Dan George PT7
photo shows hands and some sort of electronics 35-NC v. Peterson: Dan George PT8
Evidence technician Eric Campen takes the stand in Michael Peterson's murder trial. 36-NC v. Peterson: Eric Campen
evidence on a table 37-NC v. Peterson: Eric Campen PT2
Eric Campen undergoes cross-examination in Michael Peterson's murder trial. 38-NC v. Peterson: Eric Campen PT3
Eric Campen undergoes cross-examination in Michael Peterson's murder trial. 39-NC v. Peterson: Eric Campen PT4
Durham police Detective Vincent Bynum takes the stand in Michael Peterson's murder trial. 40-NC v. Peterson: Detective Vincent Bynum
A woman holds up evidence in court 41-NC v. Peterson: Angela Ashby & Sgt. Vicki Minser
A woman wearing a glove holds up evidence 42-NC v. Peterson: Special Agent Joyce Petzka
A woman testifies in court 43-NC v. Peterson: Special Agent Suzi Barker
A man in a suit points to a diagram on an easel 44-NC v. Peterson: Special Agent Mark Boodee
SBI Special Agent James Gregory, a hair and fiber forensics expert, takes the stand in Michael Peterson's murder trial. 45-NC v. Peterson: Special Agent James Gregory
William Haggard testifies in court 46-NC v. Peterson: William Haggard
Dr. Kenneth Snell testifies 47-NC v. Peterson: Dr. Kenneth Snell
A man in a suit sits in court 48-NC v. Peterson: Outside the Presence of the Jury
Computer investigator Todd Markley, of CompuSleuth, takes the stand outside the presence of the jury in Michael Peterson's murder trial. 49-NC v. Peterson: OPJ: Todd Markley
a man in a suit points to evidence 50-NC v. Peterson: Patrick Kemmer
Computer investigator Todd Markley, of CompuSleuth, takes the stand in Michael Peterson's murder trial. 51-NC v. Peterson: Todd Markley
Todd Markely continues his testimony in Michael Peterson's murder trial. 52-NC v. Peterson: Todd Markley PT2
attorney stands with hands on counsel table 53-NC v. Peterson: Outside the Presence of the Jury
A man in a suit sits in court holding a pen 54-NC v. Peterson: Todd Markley PT3
Judge overseeing trial sits on the bench 55-NC v. Peterson: Outside the Presence of the Jury
Former male escort Brent Wolgamott, who claims Michael Peterson arranged a meeting with him three months before Kathleen's death, takes the stand. 56-NC v. Peterson: Brent Wolgamott
SBI Special Agent John Bendure, a forensic chemist, takes the stand in Michael Peterson's murder trial. 57-NC v. Peterson: Special Agent John Bendure
A man testifies in court 58-NC v. Peterson: Special Agent Duane Deaver
A man in a suit speaks in court 59-NC v. Peterson: Special Agent Duane Deaver PT2
A man holds up a photograph in court 60-NC v. Peterson: Special Agent Duane Deaver PT3
A man holds a pointer in court 61-NC v. Peterson: OPJ: Special Agent Duane Deaver PT4
A man leans over as a display is shown to the jury. 62-NC v. Peterson: OPJ: Special Agent Duane Deaver PT5
Michael Peterson listens to the testimony of Agent Deaver in his murder trial 63-NC v. Peterson: OPJ: Special Agent Duane Deaver PT6
an attorney shows evidence to the jury 64-NC v. Peterson: Special Agent Duane Deaver PT7
Two men show evidence to the jury 65-NC v. Peterson: Special Agent Duane Deaver PT8
A woman cries while testifying in court 66-NC v. Peterson: OPJ: Cheryl Appel-Schumacher
A man looks at a photo through a magnifying glass. 67-NC v. Peterson: Special Agent Duane Deaver PT9
surveillance photo shows a man with a baseball cap 68-NC v. Peterson: Special Agent Duane Deaver PT10
photo shows a person on a ladder 69-NC v. Peterson: Special Agent Duane Deaver PT11
A still from surveillance video shows someone bent over 70-NC v. Peterson: Special Agent Duane Deaver PT12
A woman sits in court 71-NC v. Peterson: OPJ: Cheryl Appel-Schumacher
A man in a suit testifies in court 72-NC v. Peterson: Special Agent Duane Deaver PT13
A woman testifies in court 73-NC v. Peterson: OPJ: Margaret Blair
A woman testifies in court 74-NC v. Peterson: OPJ: Dr. Deborah Radisch
An attorney addresses the court 75-NC v. Peterson: Outside the Presence of the Jury
A woman holds up a photo for the jury 76-NC v. Peterson: Cheryl Appel-Schumacher
A man in a suit testifies in court 77-NC v. Peterson: Thomas Appel-Schumacher
A woman testifies in court 78-NC v. Peterson: Billie Allen
A man in a suit testifies in court 79-NC v. Peterson: Dr. Larry Barnes
a woman holds her hands folded under her chin on the witness stand 80-NC v. Peterson: Margaret Blair
A woman testifies in court 81-NC v. Peterson: OPJ: Barbara Malagnino & Amy Beth Berner
A man testifies in court 82-NC v. Peterson: Steve Lyons
A woman testifies in court 83-NC v. Peterson: Barbara Malagnino
84-NC v. Peterson: Special Agent Duane Deaver PT14
A blonde woman testifies in court 85-NC v. Peterson: Amy Beth Berner
A woman testifies in court. 86-NC v. Peterson: Candace Zamperini
A man in light suit and blue tie testifies in court 87-NC v. Peterson: Dr. Aaron Gleckman
A man testifies in court 88-NC v. Peterson: Dr. Thomas Bouldin
A woman shows evidence to the jury 89-NC v. Peterson: Candace Zamperini PT2
A woman testifies in court 90-NC v. Peterson: Dr. Deborah Radisch
Michael Peterson leans back in court 91-NC v. Peterson: Dr. Deborah Radisch PT2
A woman testifies in court 92-NC v. Peterson: Dr. Deborah Radisch PT3
A woman testifies in court 93-NC v. Peterson: Dr. Deborah Radisch PT4
An attorney sits during a trial 94-NC v. Peterson: Dr. Deborah Radisch PT5
A man testifies in court 95-NC v. Peterson: Dr. Jan Leestma
A man testifies in court 96-NC v. Peterson: Dr. Jan Leestma PT2
An attorney shows evidence to the jury. 97-NC v. Peterson: Dr. Jan Leestma PT3
A man testifies in court. 98-NC v. Peterson: Dr. Jan Leestma PT4
Michael Peterson sits with his hand to his chin 99-NC v. Peterson: Dr. Jan Leestma PT5
A man looks up as he testifies in court 100-NC v. Peterson: Major Timothy Palmbach
The judge motions with his hands 101-NC v. Peterson: Major Timothy Palmbach PT2
Michael Peterson holds his hand to his face 102-NC v. Peterson: Major Timothy Palmbach PT3
a man in a suit testifies 103-NC v. Peterson: Lindsey Roberson & Ronald Guerette
Dr Henry Lee holds his hands over his head 104-NC v. Peterson: Dr. Henry Lee
a photograph shows a man sitting on the stairs 105-NC v. Peterson: Dr. Henry Lee PT2
Dr. Henry Lee testifies in court 106-NC v. Peterson: Dr. Henry Lee PT3
Dr. Henry Lee looks through a magnifying glass at a piece of paper. 107-NC v. Peterson: Dr. Henry Lee PT4
Dr. Henry Lee shows the jury a photo 108-NC v. Peterson: Dr. Henry Lee PT5
A man testifies in court 109-NC v. Peterson: Dr. Faris Bandak
A still from an animation shows a body at the bottom of the stairs 110-NC v. Peterson: Dr. Faris Bandak PT2
A man addresses the jury in court 111-NC v. Peterson: Dr. Faris Bandak PT3
A man testifies in court 112-NC v. Peterson: Major Timothy Palmbach PT4
A man testifies in court 113-NC v. Peterson: Clyde Anderson
Art Holland testifies 114-NC v. Peterson: Detective Art Holland
A man holds a photo for the jury 115-NC v. Peterson: John Rosenthal
A man holds evidence in front of the jury 116-NC v. Peterson: Detective Art Holland
A woman makes a face on the witness stand 117-NC v. Peterson: Ruth Brown
A woman testifies in court 118-NC v. Peterson: Lori Campell
A man points to a model of a skull 119-NC v. Peterson: Dr. James McElhaney
A man in a suit testifies in court 120-NC v. Peterson: Dr. James McElhaney PT2
Dr. John Butts testifies 121-NC v. Peterson: Dr. John Butts
art holland testifies 122-NC v. Peterson: Detective Art Holland
a judge presides over a courtroom 123-NC v. Peterson: Outside the Presence of the Jury
a man shows evidence to the jury 124-NC v. Peterson: Defense Closing Argument
a man holds his hand to his face 125-NC v. Peterson: Defense Closing Argument PT2
A woman addresses the jury 126-NC v. Peterson: Prosecution Closing Argument
A man points to a large display in court 127-NC v. Peterson: Prosecution Closing Argument PT2
Michael Peterson sits in court 128-NC v. Peterson: Jury Instructions
Michael Peterson sits in court 129-NC v. Peterson: Verdict