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| DAY FIVE: FRIDAY, OCT. 10, 2003 |
| 9:30 a.m. |
Jury begins the fifth day of deliberations.
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| 11:00 a.m. |
Jury reaches a verdict.
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| 11:05 a.m. |
Verdict announced: Peterson guilty of first-degree murder.
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| DAY FOUR: THURSDAY, OCT. 9, 2003 |
| 9:35 a.m. |
Jury begins the fourth day of deliberations.
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| 10:35 a.m. |
Jurors ask judge for transcripts of testimony by Chief Medical Examiner John Butts and prosecution injury biomechanics expert James McElhaney. After discussion with lawyers, judge denies the request because
transcripts could not be produced in time to deliver them without delaying
deliberations. Judge reminds jurors that they should use their memories of the
testimony, as well as their notes.
Also during break: One juror turns over to judge a letter from a local television reporter inviting her to an event following the trial. Judge Orlando Hudson Jr. instructs the juror to ignore this letter and any further correspondence. |
| 11:30 a.m. |
Lunch break.
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| 12:35 p.m. |
Jurors resume deliberations.
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| 2:45 p.m. |
Deliberations end for the day.
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| DAY THREE: WEDNESDAY, OCT. 8, 2003 |
| 9:35 a.m. |
Jury begins the third day of deliberations.
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| 10:45 a.m. |
Jury sends out a note requesting a paper easel and marker, which the judge granted.
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| 12:45 p.m. |
Jury resumes deliberations after lunch.
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| 3:00 p.m. |
Jury goes home for the evening.
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| DAY TWO: TUESDAY, OCT. 7, 2003 |
| 9:30 a.m. |
Jury begins second day of deliberations. Panelists request a transcript of the prosecution's opening statement.
Watch the state's opening.
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| 11:30 a.m. |
Jury breaks for lunch.
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| Afternoon |
Judge Orlando Hudson Jr. declines to give jury transcript of prosecutor's opening, saying, "One of the things I told you was that the opening statements were not
evidence in this case. So ... the court will not allow it to go back in the
back room and be considered by the jury."
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| 3:30 p.m. |
Jury goes home for the evening.
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| DAY ONE: MONDAY,
OCT. 6, 2003 |
| 2:05 p.m. |
Jury begins deliberations.
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| 3:00 p.m. |
Jury goes home for the evening.
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When business executive Kathleen Peterson was found dead at the bottom of a staircase, investigators figured she fell after a night of drinking. But when pathologists concluded Peterson's injuries looked more like a beating, prosecutors pointed the finger at her husband, novelist Michael Peterson, who now faces life in prison.
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 Verdict Sheet
Jurors must fill out this form once they render their decision.
Jury Instructions
The judge read these instructions for the jury to follow just before deliberations began.
Peterson's E-mails
E-mails from Michael Peterson included talk about money problems, a gay friend and his wife's work troubles.
Web Site List
This extensive list of Web sites was viewed on the defendant's computer.
Letters of Support
Some of the dozens of letters urging the judge to grant Peterson bail repeatedly refer to the "perfect couple," and one writer even comments on how unsteady Kathleen would become when drinking.
Peterson's Autopsy
The medical examiner concluded Kathleen Peterson's death was more likely caused by a beating than a fall down the stairs.
Ratliff's Autopsy
Elizabeth Ratliff's death was initially deemed accidental and her cause of death was a brain hemorrhage.
Supplemental Motion
This defense motion provides details about dissimilarities between the two dead women's injuries following Ratliff's exhumation and second autopsy.
Lab Results
The State Bureau of Investigation analyzed the Petersons clothing for finger and shoe prints.
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