The staircase

"Accident or cold-blooded murder?" This is the question posed by director Jean-Xavier de Lestrade's eight-episode documentary series. On November 9, 2001, Michael Peterson makes a hysterical 911 call to the Durham, NC, police. He reports that his wife, Kathleen, has fallen down the stairs and is seriously injured. The police and paramedics arrive quickly and find that Kathleen is dead. But the crime scene is covered in blood-too much blood, according to the investigating officer. And so the probing begins. Unlike many true crime programs, The Staircase provides a rare view into the defense case, with open access to the investigators, the Peterson family and friends, and forensic scientists. As the inquiry uncovers secrets that could harm its case, the defense team struggles to make sense of Michael's story while they prepare to go to trial. The trial drags on for five months, with deliberations taking another five days. Did Michael kill his wife or was this a dreadful, unfortunate accident? The jury's verdict is in; viewers may disagree. The program features graphic crime scene analysis and adult language. For true crime, law, or forensic science collections. Highly recommended.-Karen A. Plummer, Univ. of Akron Lib. (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.