Watch The Staircase

The Staircase is a gripping true-crime documentary that follows the controversial trial of Michael Peterson, a novelist who was accused of murdering his wife Kathleen. The documentary is directed by French filmmaker Jean-Xavier de Lestrade, who also directed the 2004 miniseries of the same name. The series opens with the discovery of Kathleen's body at the bottom of a staircase in the couple's Durham, North Carolina, home in December 2001. Michael is the only other person in the house at the time, and he maintains his innocence from the beginning. But the police, who become convinced that the death was a homicide rather than an accident, arrest Michael and charge him with first-degree murder.

Over the course of the next several years, the documentary follows Michael's trial and the subsequent appeals that he files. The trial is filled with twists and turns, and the evidence presented by both the prosecution and the defense is often contradictory and confusing.

One of the central themes of the documentary is the question of Michael's guilt or innocence. The evidence presented by the prosecution includes blood spatter patterns, injuries to Kathleen's head and neck, and the fact that Michael stood to benefit financially from her death. The defense, on the other hand, argues that Kathleen's death was the result of an accidental fall down the stairs, and they point to Michael's lack of a criminal record and the fact that he passed multiple lie detector tests as evidence of his innocence.

Throughout the series, the documentary also explores the personal lives of Michael and Kathleen, as well as the dynamics of their relationship. Interviews with friends and family members of both Michael and Kathleen provide insight into their personalities and the events leading up to Kathleen's death.

The Staircase also delves into the broader issues of the criminal justice system, including the use of forensic evidence and the ways in which trials are conducted. The documentary highlights the flaws in the system, including the potential for tunnel vision on the part of investigators and the potential for jurors to be swayed by emotions rather than evidence.

Overall, The Staircase is a compelling and thought-provoking exploration of a complex and controversial case. The series raises important questions about justice, truth, and the way we understand and interpret evidence.