Det. Art Holland, lead investigator, Durham Police Dept.

Recalled to the stand, testified that the blow poke the defense produced for the jury was similiar to the replica presented by the prosecution as well as two others the victim's sister gave family members.
After Holland conceded the similiarities of the four blow pokes, defense lawyer David Rudolf posed the question, "Can we admit the missing blow poke has been found?"
On cross, insisted the poker the defense claims was in the Peterson house all along "was not in that basement."

John Leslie Rosenthal, photographer

Hired by the defense to photograph the blow poke on Sept. 21, 2003, two days before his testimony.
Said the blow poke was found in the Petersons two-car garage which was "pitch black" inside.
Testified there were dried insects, spider webs and dust on the blow poke, identifying photos later shown to the jury illustrating this.

Det. Art Holland, lead investigator, Durham Police Dept.

During his testimony, defense lawyer presented a blow poke found inside the Petersons garage which fit the description of what the prosecution alleged was the missing murder weapon.
Admitted he didnt know where the blow poke had been for the past 20 months.
Conceded that the blow poke before him did not appear to mangled, and that Kathleen Petersons alleged beating would have been mangled.

Clyde Andrson, the Petersons housekeeper

Performed housekeeping work for the Petersons twice a week starting in 1999.
Testified the day after Kathleens death, he cleaned the hallway and walls by the staircase with soap and water.
Said he never saw a blow poke by the fireplace but admitted the it may have been in the house without him having seen it.

Faris Bandak, biomechanical research scientist

Testifying as an expert in injury biomechanics, said Kathleen Peterson's injuries were not consistent with a beating by a blow poke.
Said her injuries were more likely caused by an accidental fall.
Presented a possible accidental fall scenario to the jury illustrated by a computer animation.

Henry Lee, forensic scientist

Testified the blood stain patterns were inconsistent with a beating death, citing a lack of spatter on Michael Peterson's shirt, the absence of cast-off spatter and the complexity of the spatter present in the staircase.
Said that based on the blood patterns, there was nothing inconsistent with Kathleen Peterson having died from an accidental fall.
Criticized the analysis of prosecution expert Duane Deaver, who concluded Kathleen Peterson was beaten to death, and cited specific examples.
Conceded on cross that he cannot absolutely exclude the possibility that Kathleen was beaten to death.

Ron Guerette, private investigator

As the jury prepared to view the Peterson house, Guerette talked about his visit on Dec. 14, 2001, at the bequest of the defense.
Implied plywood placed at the bottom of the stairs to preserve the scene had improperly been moved.
Said it was very dark in the staircase.

Christina Tomasetti, friend of the Petersons

Since the witness, who is pregnant, was unable to appear in person, her statement was read to the jury instead.
Said hours before Kathleen Petersons death she observed Michael Peterson open a bottle wine and that he seemed to be in good spirits.
Returned to the Peterson home from a party with the defendants son at approximately 2:50 a.m. to find ambulances and other emergency vehicles in front of the house.
Said she went with Todd to the kitchen to console Michael Peterson, who was shaking, mumbling, and covered with blood.

Major Timothy Palmbach, director, division of scientific services, Connecticut State Police

Testifying as a forensics expert, said there was improper control of the Peterson crime scene.
Said evidence could have been altered or destroyed, making it hard to analyze.
Cited specific examples of what he believes what mishandling of blood and other evidence at the scene.

Jan Leestma, forensic neuropathologist

Concluded Kathleen Peterson died not from a beating, but from a fall and that she likely fell more than once.
Said Kathleen Peterson's skull did not contain any of the injuries commonly found in beating deaths such as a fractures of the skull, face, head, arms or ribs and thus inconsistent with a beating.
Testified the shapes of the wounds on Kathleen Peterson's scalp didn't match the weapon prosecutors allege was used in the purported beating.
Believes Elizabeth Ratliff indeed died of a stroke as diagnosed in the first autopsy report.