DURHAM, N.C. — A paramedic testifying in the murder trial of novelist Michael Peterson said that he had never seen as much blood — some of it apparently dry — as when he came upon the body of Peterson's wife, Kathleen.

On Wednesday, lawyers defending Peterson worked to undo any damage caused by the prosecution's first witness.

Paramedic James Rose had testified Tuesday that he and his partner raced to the Peterson home at 3 a.m. on Dec. 9, 2001, after Michael Peterson called 911 to say his wife had fallen down the stairs and was seriously hurt.

"It was very unusual for us to see that amount of blood for a fall," Rose, testifying in uniform, told jurors.

During cross-examination Wednesday, defense lawyer Thomas Maher attempted to show the jury that Rose had little experience with fatal falls. He had only responded to one before, and it did not involve a victim who had been drinking.

The defense claims Kathleen Peterson fell on a steep, dimly lit staircase after consuming wine and champagne. Prosecutors contend the amount of blood and the number and location of seven scalp lacerations suggest she was beaten with a blunt object.

Michael Peterson shares a moment with his children.

Rose also testified that he became suspicious about the death because it appeared the blood was drying, which prosecutors believe indicates Peterson killed his wife and then spent time staging it to look like an accident before calling 911. 

After a contentious hearing outside the presence of the jury, Judge Orlando Hudson told jurors to disregard the paramedic's testimony that Kathleen Peterson was probably dead 30 to 45 minutes before the ambulance arrived.

During the hearing, defense lawyer David Rudolf grilled Rose about his training and knowledge of forensic pathology. Rudolf argued that Rose's "educated guess" that Kathleen Peterson had been dead so long amounted to "zero" because it was based on medical circumstances that could also occur if Kathleen Peterson was alive but dying.

Rose also testified that:

• Michael Peterson was very upset when paramedics arrived and was unable to answer even basic questions, like his wife's date of birth;
  
• The front door of the home was wide open when the ambulance arrived at 2:48 a.m. and there were two drops of flood outside the front door;
  
• Michael Peterson told Rose that he had briefly gone out to the back yard to turn off the pool lights and returned to find his wife at the foot of the stairs, contradicting the defense's claim that he stayed outside for 30 to 45 minutes after Kathleen Peterson went into the house.

On cross-examination, Rose testified that in his initial police statement he never mentioned any drying blood or Peterson's alleged statement about turning off the pool lights. He did mention both in a second statement Rose gave police three days after the death. Rose said he had never before been asked to provide a second statement to police.

Paramedic Ron Paige, one of three emergency crew members who testified they saw dried blood.

In response to defense questions, Rose acknowledged that Michael Peterson didn't appear like anything other than a concerned man deeply upset by his wife's condition.

"He was crouched over the body of his wife crying and sobbing, correct?" Maher asked.

"Yes, sir," Rose answered. "That's how we saw him."

Two other witnesses called by the prosecution Wednesday also testified about seeing what they thought was dried blood.

Paramedic Ron Paige said it was clear to him that Kathleen Peterson was dead when he peered into the stairwell. He noticed her open, dialated eyes and saw blood on her head, the walls, the floor and Michael Peterson.

"Mr. Peterson was standing over his wife crying ... I don't know if he was trying to help her or what," Paige said. "He was covered in blood ... From what I could see the blood appeared to be dried."

On cross-examination by the defense, Paige conceded that he never touched Peterson to see if the blood on his clothes was dry or wet and didn't mention blood appearing dry in a police statement he penned the night of Kathleen Peterson's death.

Addressing the prosecution's theory that Peterson manipulated the scene and duped responders by making a murder look like an accident, Maher asked Paige about statements the defendant made that night.

"He wasn't trying to convince you this was an accident?" Maher asked.

"No, he didn't say anything," Paige said.

The trial is being broadcast by Court TV.