GUILTY NC - Kathleen Peterson, 48, found dead in her Durham home, 9 Dec 2001

[Skigirl]

I watched the original trial and have followed this case since. I've been hoping he would be tried again. I don't recall the case actually depending much on things like clothing and shoes, did it? To me at the time, it was the photos of the blood all over the walls and the multiple lacerations to Kathleen's skull that convinced me she had been murdered. His defense was that she had not been murdered, that she had fallen down the stairs. That was just unbelievable based on the pattern of the blows to the poor woman's head.

Can someone please provide a link to Part 2 of the WRAL coverage of the Evidence Hearing? I cannot find it.

By the way, never a man with Hollywood good looks, time has not been kind to Michael Peterson. He looks like a wizened, pointy-eared old elf!

It's been such a long time since the trial and it predates my living here, so I did not see all of it on TV. I do think that the shoes and clothes came up in that blood was found on Peterson's shorts and blood on the bottom of his shoes, which he took off and placed next to her body prior to the arrival of LE, which led investigators to believe that he had taken them off in order to get around the house for supplies, clean-up and to dispose of evidence. I'm sure they've all been tested previously -- hopefully there are at least good photos of the shoes in their original condition -- but what I find worrisome is that his defense is arguing that he can't get a fair trial because he can't test the evidence independently now that it's been compromised. If I were a judge, I would find that compelling, I'm afraid.

I totally agree about time not being kind. We use the same YMCA, and the first time I saw him, other than feeling this creepy feeling of recognition and then shock, I also was shocked at how short he is and how old and weird he looks. He definitely does not look as if he was ever good-looking enough for any of the claims he made to his escort penpal to be true.

 

[JusticeWillBeServed]

Mike Peterson headed back to Durham court to seek dismissal of murder charge

http://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/crime/article114562693.html

More than three months have passed since Durham County clerks were called to the witness stand in a Durham courtroom to describe how they had preserved evidence from the Mike Peterson murder case over the years.

That testimony is likely to be at the core of arguments that defense attorneys make for the former Durham novelist and newspaper columnist as he tries again to win dismissal of a murder case lodged against him almost 15 years ago.

Peterson, 73, remains accused of murder in the 2001 death of his wife, Kathleen Peterson. He was found guilty of first-degree murder in 2003, but Judge Orlando Hudson vacated that conviction in 2011 after ruling that a key prosecution witness had misled the jury.

On Monday, defense attorney Mary Jude Darrow will go before Hudson to argue that courthouse clerks, police and others have made it impossible for Peterson to get a fair trial 13 years after the first one.

 

[Skigirl]

Anybody watching live? I can't, but I believe it's being broadcast right now on www.wral.com

 

[Skittles]

From WRAL:

" A Superior Court judge on Monday denied Mike Peterson's attempt to have the murder charge against him in his wife's death nearly 15 years ago dismissed, and a new trial in the long-running case has been set for next spring."

More at:

http://www.wral.com/judge-blocks-mike-peterson-s-bid-to-end-murder-case/16234091/#QDrUA8hPMIQaFT3F.99

From the Raleigh News & Observer:

"Mike Peterson, a former Durham newspaper columnist and novelist, continues to face a murder charge in his wife’s death despite an attempt Monday to get the case dismissed."

More at:

http://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/crime/article114680608.html#storylink=cpy

 

[borndem]

Yep.

 

[NCEast]

Mike Peterson's Original Attorney Returning for Retrial per WRAL 4pm internet news

Read more at http://www.wral.com/mike-peterson-s...ewsletter&utm_source=wral#Ui3ELZVUSfqtZTqT.99

 

[borndem]

This time, David Rudolf will do it pro bono...

(Rudolf & my cousin could pass for twins -- every time I see Rudolf, I think of my cuz. It's uncanny.)

 

[NCEast]

This time, David Rudolf will do it pro bono...

(Rudolf & my cousin could pass for twins -- every time I see Rudolf, I think of my cuz. It's uncanny.)

I am certain M. Peterson is in financial ruins. I'm surprised Rudolf is doing it for free. This entire case has been crazy since day one. Does your cousin wear a bit of extra hair, lol ?
Good to see you BornDem!!!

 

[borndem]

I am certain M. Peterson is in financial ruins. I'm surprised Rudolf is doing it for free. This entire case has been crazy since day one. Does your cousin wear a bit of extra hair, lol ?
Good to see you BornDem!!!

Good to see you, too, NCEast!! :seeya:

Nope, my cousin does not wear a bit of extra hair!!! (you made me laff on that one!)

I'm surprised, as you are, that Rudolf is coming back into the fray, especially for no bucks -- maybe he thinks that it will be easier this time since the word is that some of the original evidence can't be found or used or whatever. Dunno. We'll see. The man is guilty -- put him back where he belongs :jail: . MHO, of course.

 

[Skigirl]

Good to see you, too, NCEast!! :seeya:

Nope, my cousin does not wear a bit of extra hair!!! (you made me laff on that one!)

I'm surprised, as you are, that Rudolf is coming back into the fray, especially for no bucks -- maybe he thinks that it will be easier this time since the word is that some of the original evidence can't be found or used or whatever. Dunno. We'll see. The man is guilty -- put him back where he belongs :jail: . MHO, of course.

Seems he sat out the boring parts. He strikes me as a bit of a fame monger, so maybe he thinks that the publicity will be worth the boost to his ego and his practice.

 

[Skittles]

Here's the News and Observer article from last week. I'm a bit behind in my newspaper reading.

Mike Peterson changes his defense team

http://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/crime/article118187308.html

 

[Somoteitbe]

I went back through some of the posts from the original trial and you see all these posts about "the blood splatter is going to nail him" & "it doesn't seem the blood splatter is going his way."

As one person put it "2+2 doesn't always make 4 and things aren't as they seem."

Now we know why the blood splatter didn't go his way. DeWayne Deaver is why.

But it ill be interested to see if the owl theory comes out in the re-trial & if jurors buy into it.

 

[Skigirl]

I went back through some of the posts from the original trial and you see all these posts about "the blood splatter is going to nail him" & "it doesn't seem the blood splatter is going his way."

As one person put it "2+2 doesn't always make 4 and things aren't as they seem."

Now we know why the blood splatter didn't go his way. DeWayne Deaver is why.

But it ill be interested to see if the owl theory comes out in the re-trial & if jurors buy into it.

There is still blood spatter everywhere in the pictures, you don't need testimony or analyses from Duane Deaver to see that. The jurors said in post-trial interviews that they just felt there was too much blood for it to have been an accident. IMHO, the owl "theory" (which is not a theory, it's just hypothesis) is beyond ridiculous and I would bet that 95% of jurors would agree with me.

 

[Skittles]

From the Raleigh News & Observer:

"DURHAM -- Michael Peterson, the Durham novelist accused of murdering his wife, wants to make sure a jury at his retrial doesn’t hear evidence about his contact with a gay escort and his interest in gay *advertiser censored*."

<snip>

"Rudolf also wants to prohibit prosecutors from bringing up the death of Elizabeth Ratliff"

More at:

http://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/crime/article122703199.html

 

[borndem]

From the Raleigh News & Observer:

"DURHAM -- Michael Peterson, the Durham novelist accused of murdering his wife, wants to make sure a jury at his retrial doesn’t hear evidence about his contact with a gay escort and his interest in gay *advertiser censored*."

<snip>

"Rudolf also wants to prohibit prosecutors from bringing up the death of Elizabeth Ratliff"

More at:

http://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/crime/article122703199.html

Well, h*ll, why doesn't he just ask for a Not Guilty pronouncement from the judge, and go back home??

Grrrrr.

 

[crimesnooper]

Does the nose know? I was watching a replay of the documentary "The Staircase" which included the vacated order and Michael visiting with his children. Now full adults I was struck by the similar resemblance between Martha and Clayton. The noses are extremely prominent and look identical. I have followed this case but I can't remember if they ever offered a motive as to why he killed the girls' mother is Germany. I don't think they did. This is pure speculation but is it possible that Martha is actually Michael's biological daughter and the motive for her mother's murder was a fight, threat regarding this. I have always thought it strange that Michael was so adamant about keeping those girls. His wife at the time clearly was against it and the girls had other relatives. Please fellow websleuths look at the documentary update. Am I seeing things?

 

[Blondie in Spokane]

Hmmm....I haven't watched the update but that a very good thought - an interesting possibility. I always wondered why he wanted custody of the girls but my mind wandered to other disgusting possibilities.

 

[crimesnooper]

I hope I have the names right. The one I am talking about has the long red hair.and the update notes that she just turned 30. Michael on camera says he was there for her birth. And its interesting because many beleive that Elizabeth Radcliff's husband was murdered.

 

[Blondie in Spokane]

I'll try to watch the update later today as you have me very interested! I can't remember the circumstances of ER's husband's passing as it's been so long since i followed this story. Wasn't he overseas on military duty when he died? Ugg...my memory is so foggy! MP has always given me the creeps....i could barely stand looking at his photos years ago and now, well, time hasn't done him any favors. Yuck!

ETA - it just popped into my head that MP reminds me of a weasel! Lol

 

[Blondie in Spokane]

I was just remembering a few things from the trial. I was so impressed with KP's sister and her daughter Caitlin (sp).... they both displayed such grace and dignity throughout that awful time. I'm sure MP's kids made Caitlin's life very unbearable when she cut ties with them and stood by the prosecution after originally defending MP, especially that brat son of MP's who tried to paint KP as drunk that night when she hadn't been drinking per the blood work.

I remember not liking David what's his name, the defense attorney. That whole business with the blowpoke was a joke. And I remember after the trial that he was pulled over for speeding, I think, and tried to use the whole "don't you know who I am?" line to the cop. What an a$$, never could stand that guy.

The prosecutor, Jim something who went on to be a judge, was so impressive. I remember his summation was so even-toned and calm compared to David/defense's loud bluster. JIm was so good at prosecuting this case. It's a shame that the CSI guy (Deaver?) ruined everything and caused a re-trial.

Memories.....this was one of the first trials that truly captivated me but it's been such a long time.