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

[sariebell]

Yeah he looks creepy. He reminds me of Dirk Grineder that other guy who killed his wife and lived an alternate (bisexual) lifestyle.

 

[tthoman]

POOK:

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAAAAAAAAAAA! You will definitely HAVE to take the day off and call room-service!!!!!!!!!

He looks just like an elf to me........he is so totally guilty it's unreal. Those Ratliff girls are in denial......feel sorry for them.

I hate the way he deliberately rubs his face with his left hand when he thinks the camera is on him so you can view his wedding ring........UGH!.......he's right handed (watch when he pours water)!!

 

[boody]

This trial is v. addictive. I just started college as an older student and I'll tape Nancy Grace & reward myself if I've done my readings, etc for school. Isn't that sick???

You know they are going to smear her before the defense is done. I feel so sorry for her. Her 1st husband cheated on her w/ a woman, her 2nd husband cheated on her w/ men & then killed her, and now her step-son, who I'm sure she financially took care of, is calling her a drunk! (At least that was the snippet I got last week, can anyone confirm or flesh this out?) And now they will crucify her in absentia in the rest of this trial, mark my words.

 

[tthoman]

BOODY:

You pretty much have the picture clearly. She was the ONLY breadwinner of the family and was convinced she was going to lose her job the up-coming January........(it was revealed recently that she was on the cut list).......She supported them all and it wasn't peanuts! Mega bucks..........He stood to benefit over a million upon her death from her company........while she was still with the company! He did her in while the doing was good.

Nancy Grace is great!

 

[sariebell]

I am intrigued by the college student who claimed they were supposed to meet and have "anal". I missed that whole segment, and my parents keep saying therein lies the motive. Apparently the guy is leading a double life. That's a tough row to hoe. I also think the condoms in the bedroom upstairs have something to do with the crime. SOMEONE was upstairs doing something with condoms that night, even though MP claims they were by the pool drinking. I'm sorry, Kathleen didn't fall up the stairs, ya know?

I am obsessed with this trial. I am a teacher and confess that during my lunch break, I turn on the TV and watch it in my classroom as I choke down a bite to eat. I first learned of the trial when I visited some attorney friends of my boyfriend's in Raleigh and they were giving me the lowdown on the court system and the major players in the area. Super intriguing!

 

[tthoman]

SARIEBELL:

That must have been interesting. I am quite impressed with the dignified and cultured demeanor of the Carolinians. I like Mr. Hardin's quiet strength. I think they are pretty sharp and not the "rubes" MP, Rudolf, & company, like to insinuate.

Dear old Dr. Lee is this week, I think.

 

[sariebell]

I am familiar with the David Rudolf defense machine, because I watched almost every minute of the Rae Carruth trial. If find Rudolf extremely offensive, though brilliant and effective! As far as the Carolinian prosecution, Hardin is a little emotional, though I find that a plus, myself...nothing wrong with believing in your cause. I worry about the other prosecutor taking the witnesses out to dinner or something like that. Though it was probably done in good faith, one still must apply the general protocols of law to this trial as well, even if people are travelling a great distance. I love to hear about Jim Hardin's mom preparing the lunch every day on court tv. It reminds me of my own relatives in NC...some people are just good as gold!

My friends mostly related to me that the Durham police force is notable for their follies. They said that the legal system in the area was going to be overwhelmed by this case. I guess they were right!

 

[tthoman]

SARIEBELL:

I want Mama Hardin's receipes!!!!!!! Did you know that she had two sons and a daughter perish in a fire ?

Yes, to hear that Freda took the out -of- town witnesses to dinner was unusual but I doubt that it amounted to anything. Freda is not dumb and they are very hospitable in North Carolina.

I think MP was counting on the foibles of the police exonerating him but I think they were smarter than he thought.

We shall see.

 

[tthoman]

SARIEBELL:

As Nancy Grace said today: "I never thought I'd see the day that Henry Lee would be on the ropes".......! Hardin ruled the day with Lee and was superb.

Lee's performance was appalling. He was defensive, not credible, not focused, and did not seem prepared. He was ego-driven, posturing, and his behaviour was annoying.

You could tell by Rudolf's body language when they all were leaving the court room that he was thinking "You blew it, Lee".

 

[sariebell]

I was unable to catch any of Dr. Lee's testimony today, but I am glad to hear that he didn't just breeze through. He is obviously a hired gun and though he would not lie on the stand by any means, he certainly must tailor his findings to meet a certain objective...much like the prosecution does. It has seemed almost unfair to me that the prosecution is always dealt the players that it gets, i.e. the LE et al that work the case. The defense, on the other hand, has the ability to shop around for the most dazzling of witnesses who will testify to the info they want to illuminate. I am happy that even the wonderful Henry Lee can't convince that the fall was au naturel. Too much blood...it's obvious to the eye.

The similarities between the Ratliffe and the Petersen
"incidents" are shocking. I wonder if the jury will simply see pictures of the two women. Their appearances are noticably similar.

I wish I had enough sense to tape the trial during the day to watch at night. I think that is the same reason I don't just get Tivo...letting TV rule my life is not necessarily such a good thing

 

[tthoman]

SARIEBELL:

The jury has seen very moving and dramatic testimony concerning the Ratliff murder from the prosecutorial witnesses who came from Germany as well as her sister who came from Rhode Island.

I don't think I would like to be in a relationship with MP and resemble those two women, especially around Christmas.

I wouldn't feel too sorry for Mr. Hardin's experts; after today they reign supreme. Lee made a fool out of himself.

 

[Up2theminute]

I agree that there's a resemblance between Elizabeth and Kathleen. I noticed that right away the first time I ever saw their pictures. I hadn't noticed the resemblance in kids but I suppose there is a little bit. Very wierd. Wouldn't that be something if those were his kids through an affair and that's another added reason he stood to benefit so much from Elizabeth's death?!
I live in North Carolina and I must admit I don't hear much about this case at all. The most coverage on this case is Court TV and online newspaper links. I don't usually buy the hardcopy of the News & Observer so maybe they do cover it a lot in the print form, I'm not sure, but mostly I just check what they put online.

 

[Silver Dollar]

The words of Henry Lee:
http://boards.go.com/cgi/WTVD/request.dll?MESSAGE&room=PetersonTrial&id=395&move=next

If this were not a murder case, it would be funny--coming from an expert.

 

[sariebell]

WOW!
Thanks for the link. Interesting quotes from Mr. Lee. I am presently on my lunch break and watching a bit of the Dr. Lee reruns. So far I have seen very little besides commercials. The court is on lunch break.

When I first heard of this trial, I was really fence sitting. I was pretty convinced that the lady just fell down the stairs, b/c I didn't see any real motive. Now, I hear so much periferal info....condom wrappers (key in my opinion), money problems, homosexual rendezvous, a similar incident years ago, now I think there is more than just mere coincidence here.


It seems like Mr. Lee was pretty theatrical in court, but was a little goofy. I would never have expected such from him. I guess he was just hired to come with his big reputation and expound upon the case. As for research and knowledge of the particular case, he had very little to offer.

It just keeps getting better and better.

So, the Ratliffe case within a case was allowed in, I guess. It's hard to keep up with so much testimony outside the jury's presence. Did the gay college student testimony come in? Was there any mention of the condom and wrappers in the master bedroom? These are key elements in my opinion.

Back to work

 

[tthoman]

All came into testimony........can't remember whether the unused condom (hadn't about the wrappers) has been mentioned or not yet.

Lee talks to the jury as if they are retarded. Peterson is looking agitated and worried. I have heard he has a SHORT fuse.....DUH! hahahahahaa.......They're on their lunch break right now.

I think Hardin is impeaching Lee with Lee's own book.

SILVERDOLLAR: FABULOUS LINK!

 

[tthoman]

SARIEBELL:

Ratliff case not ever brought into Lee's testimony....just Kathleen. Overall, Hardin made some excellent in-roads with Lee. Lee's testimony finished. Deaver appears on equal footing with Lee.

I don't think Rudolf or MP too pleased with Lee, now.

On a personal level, I think Lee likes Hardin better than Rudolf.

 

[boody]

I was taking a nap & my boyfriend woke me up before work to tell me that the prosecution sprang it on Henry Lee that there was no blood found in Kathleen Peterson's mouth! After two days of Henry Lee and his medium velocity ketchup-coughs, I thought that this would be a BOMBSHELL! But this was not even remarked upon by the trial commentators. What's up with that? Am I not understanding something? To me, the state has just proven its case.

 

[tthoman]

BOODY:

You're right. Don't worry about the Court TV commentators. THINK for yourself.

There was so much about Lee's testimonium of both days which my mind could weigh and sift through, that caused me to realize, point-blank, that he really WAS there to promote an agenda.....and an agenda only! And he realized that Hardin had exposed this, I believe.

He was so un-prepared.....I think he realized that he had really sold the prosecutorial team short.......... And thus the rub between he and Rudolf!

 

[sariebell]

I caught a little bit of the video the defense witness made to explain the wounds made by the "fall". It looked pretty ridiculous to me, but I wonder if all these experts won't plant reasonable doubt in at least one juror's mind. I'm beginning foresee a hung jury or an aquittal.

Thanks for the updates from yesterday!

 

[tthoman]

SARIEBELL:

Wasn't able to see very much but what I saw was pretty boring and silly. It's that one seed of doubt which worries me but maybe we are worrying for nothing. MP should not be able to walk away from this.