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Inside the Michael Peterson Murder Trial
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Michael Peterson, a novelist, was convicted in 2003 of murdering his wife Kathleen, who was found dead at the bottom of a staircase in their home, but the case took an unexpected turn years later when he was granted a new trial.

Legal Turmoil and Resolution: Navigating Complex Court Battles

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On December 9, 2001, Kathleen Peterson was found dead at the bottom of a staircase in the home she shared with her husband Michael in Durham, North Carolina. 1 Michael called 911 claiming Kathleen must have fallen down the stairs after drinking alcohol and taking Valium. 2 However, the autopsy revealed Kathleen had suffered seven lacerations to her head consistent with blunt force trauma, leading investigators to suspect homicide. 12 In 2003, Michael Peterson was convicted of first-degree murder for Kathleen's death and sentenced to life in prison without parole. 3 The prosecution argued Peterson killed Kathleen to cover up his bisexuality and alleged financial troubles, suggesting she may have discovered his secret gay life. 14 Peterson maintained his innocence, claiming their marriage was happy and Kathleen accepted his bisexuality. 14 After serving 8 years in prison, Peterson was granted a new trial in 2011 when a key prosecution witness was found to have given misleading testimony. 1 In 2017, Peterson submitted an Alford plea to the lesser charge of voluntary manslaughter, allowing him to assert his innocence while acknowledging sufficient evidence for a conviction. 15 He was sentenced to time served and released from prison. 5
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Suspicious Staircase Death: Elizabeth Ratliff's Case and Its Connection to Michael Peterson

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In 1985, Elizabeth Ratliff, a close friend of Michael and Patricia Peterson, was found dead at the bottom of her staircase in Germany with head injuries similar to Kathleen Peterson's. 12 Ratliff's death was initially ruled an accident caused by a cerebral hemorrhage. 3 However, during Peterson's trial, Ratliff's body was exhumed for a second autopsy by the same medical examiner who concluded Kathleen's death was a homicide. 24 This second autopsy overturned the original findings, listing Ratliff's cause of death as homicide by blunt force trauma. 24 Witnesses also testified about a large amount of blood at the scene, contradicting initial police reports. 45 While not accusing Peterson of Ratliff's death, prosecutors suggested the similarities gave him the idea to stage Kathleen's death as an accidental fall. 234 The admissibility of the Ratliff evidence became grounds for Peterson's appeal, as his lawyers argued the second autopsy lacked impartiality. 25 The striking parallels between the two deaths raised doubts about the circumstances and potential foul play involved.
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The 2006 Appeal: Thomas Maher Represents Peterson in North Carolina Court

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Peterson's defense counsel, with Thomas Maher as his new court-appointed attorney, filed an appeal that was argued before the North Carolina Court of Appeals in April 2006. 1 In September 2006, the Court of Appeals rejected Peterson's claims that judicial mistakes deprived him of a fair trial, stating the evidence was properly admitted despite finding defects in a search warrant. 23 Since the ruling was not unanimous, Peterson had the right to appeal to the North Carolina Supreme Court under state law. 2 The Supreme Court heard oral arguments in September 2007 and ultimately affirmed the lower court's decision in November 2007, exhausting Peterson's appeals of the verdict. 4 In November 2008, Peterson's new attorneys filed a motion for a new trial on three grounds: the prosecution withheld exculpatory evidence about a blow poke tool, used an unqualified expert witness, and had a racially biased juror. 5 However, this motion was denied by the Durham County Superior Court in March 2009. 5 Despite multiple appeals over several years challenging his conviction, the courts consistently upheld the guilty verdict against Peterson until he was eventually granted a new trial in 2011 based on different grounds. 12345
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