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I live locally, followed the trial very closely, know people who worked with Kathleen and just watched the staircase.
When the verdict was read for the first trial, I was very upset because I felt that while he was may not be innocent, I did not feel that the burden of beyond a reasonable doubt was met. But after watching the Staircase, I now believe he is actually innocent. I do not believe that a guilty man would have risked a second trial simply to avoid having to take a guilty plea. I think that only an truly innocent person would have absolutely refused a Guilty plea, especially at his age and knowing that no matter what he said or did that most people would think he was guilty.
I'm sorry but these statements don't really make sense. He didn't risk a second trial. He could have pushed for it but he didn't. The DA eventually decided they didn't want it either given the embarrassment of how things were handled by the state in the first trial. It would have brought up old familiar embarrassing names like Mike Nifong and Freida Black. And it would have been expensive and a bit of a circus.
He took the loophole way out... The Alford plea. Nothing heroic about it.
Seems impossible to stab someone 123 times and not have any knowledge of it, but sometimes the most ridiculous stories baffle the average person to the extent that logic is absent. Michael Peterson got away with tossing a woman down the stairs 30 years ago. Even though there was too much blood in the wrong places, there was no investigation.
That's not true. There was an investigation and autopsy of the woman in Germany.
I'm sorry but these statements don't really make sense. He didn't risk a second trial. He could have pushed for it but he didn't. The DA eventually decided they didn't want it either given the embarrassment of how things were handled by the state in the first trial. It would have brought up old familiar embarrassing names like Mike Nifong and Freida Black. And it would have been expensive and a bit of a circus.
He took the loophole way out... The Alford plea. Nothing heroic about it.
I disagree. He was adamant that he would not say the word guilty and he took 10 days in total isolation to think of what he should do. I'd imagine if I were in the same position I'd have many of the reservations MP and his attorneys did. The prosecution tried to put the screws to him the first time around, who's to say they wouldn't the second time around?
Thank God for the Alford plea. Its imperfect but it allows innocent people screwed by the justice system some semblance of justice.
I disagree. He was adamant that he would not say the word guilty and he took 10 days in total isolation to think of what he should do. I'd imagine if I were in the same position I'd have many of the reservations MP and his attorneys did. The prosecution tried to put the screws to him the first time around, who's to say they wouldn't the second time around?
Thank God for the Alford plea. Its imperfect but it allows innocent people screwed by the justice system some semblance of justice.
You do realize the Alford plea is not available in all states, right. And in some states, it's in the same category as pleading guilty, period. It often (perhaps usually) does not involve a commutation of sentencing, like it basically did for MP... even in NC. So I don't think it quite means what you think it means. It just worked for MP because he happened to have some very screwed-up individuals handling his case. No one in Durham wants to be reminded of any case Mike Nifong was involved in , on any level whatsoever. They wanted it all to go away and probably think he'll be dead soon anyway.
I live locally, followed the trial very closely, know people who worked with Kathleen and just watched the staircase.
When the verdict was read for the first trial, I was very upset because I felt that while he was may not be innocent, I did not feel that the burden of beyond a reasonable doubt was met. But after watching the Staircase, I now believe he is actually innocent. I do not believe that a guilty man would have risked a second trial simply to avoid having to take a guilty plea. I think that only an truly innocent person would have absolutely refused a Guilty plea, especially at his age and knowing that no matter what he said or did that most people would think he was guilty.
I agree with a lot of this. I was also shocked he was convicted in the initial trial. I didn't believe that he was necessarily innocent, but I absolutely thought there was reasonable doubt and too many unanswered questions.
Apparently the people who made the documentary were also stunned when he was convicted. They were French, and the purpose of the film was actually not a "who done it", but was intended to show how the US justice system works. Not very well, was their opinion!
He never did a second trial, so I assume you mis-wrote there. But it was very interesting that the Judge from the first trial admitted that he was in error in allowing the German death and the sexuality/computer stuff into the trial, as it was so prejudicial. I can't imagine that a Southern jury at that time was very happy to hear about his sexuality.... And even the judge clearly said that he thought there was reasonable doubt and that if there was a second trial Peterson would get off. That is really a powerful admission.
But it was very interesting that the Judge from the first trial admitted that he was in error in allowing the German death and the sexuality/computer stuff into the trial, as it was so prejudicial. I can't imagine that a Southern jury at that time was very happy to hear about his sexuality.... And even the judge clearly said that he thought there was reasonable doubt and that if there was a second trial Peterson would get off. That is really a powerful admission.
I love how everyone points out how messed up the DA (who eventually became a judge) was, and understands the incompetence of the system in Durham at least to some extent, but what *this* judge says in a surprising confessional to the cameras is completely accepted as pure gold.
I would take what Judge Orlando Hudson says with a huge grain of salt. He used to be a DA in that same system. He's talking to the camera (again, something I find shocking) with the whole thing in his rearview mirror and his comments could have been edited (again, a good reason for a judge to remain professional and appear impartial).
The Germany thing should not have been introduced as it's not relevant but I would argue the sexual/affair stuff is. It speaks to possible motivation. Example; She finds out and because it's rather taboo that becomes a threat to him. That's very strong motivation for all sorts of actions.
Wanted to add on the owl theory. That would happen outside. So how does Michael not hear that? It would be massively loud especially considering the damage done. It's not logical that he wouldn't hear something.
The Germany thing should not have been introduced as it's not relevant but I would argue the sexual/affair stuff is. It speaks to possible motivation. Example; She finds out and because it's rather taboo that becomes a threat to him. That's very strong motivation for all sorts of actions.
Wanted to add on the owl theory. That would happen outside. So how does Michael not hear that? It would be massively loud especially considering the damage done. It's not logical that he wouldn't hear something.
My understanding of the "owl theory" is that Kathleen was walking up or down the back stairs when an owl swooped down and attacked her, causing her to fall and crash a couple of times and eventually bleed to death at the bottom of the stairs.
Perhaps this was a great horned owl with a wingspan of 4-5 feet, or a barn owl with a wingspan of 4 feet? Wasn't the back stairwell a narrow staircase, closer to 3 feet? My impression is that the entire owl theory is based on trying to find and excuse for the 7 injuries to her head. It certainly makes more sense that she would be attacked by an owl outside, but that isn't Michael's story.
Given that her hair was in her hands, it seems more likely that maybe Michael was yanking her around by her hair and she was hanging onto her hair so it would not be ripped out.
My understanding of the "owl theory" is that Kathleen was walking up or down the back stairs when an owl swooped down and attacked her, causing her to fall and crash a couple of times and eventually bleed to death at the bottom of the stairs.
Perhaps this was a great horned owl with a wingspan of 4-5 feet, or a barn owl with a wingspan of 4 feet? Wasn't the back stairwell a narrow staircase, closer to 3 feet? My impression is that the entire owl theory is based on trying to find and excuse for the 7 injuries to her head. It certainly makes more sense that she would be attacked by an owl outside, but that isn't Michael's story.
Given that her hair was in her hands, it seems more likely that maybe Michael was yanking her around by her hair and she was hanging onto her hair so it would not be ripped out.
The stairs were inside the house. If an owl flew into the house, attacked a woman, then found its way back out, I guarantee there would be a lot of feathers found, and not just microscopic ones.
The way I understand it, the theory is that the owl attack happened outside in the front yard of the house and KP fought it off then ran inside and tried to go upstairs at which time she fell causing a ton of blood spatter everywhere.
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