The Staircase

The Staircase

2004
The Staircase
The Staircase

The Staircase

7.8 | TV-MA | en | Crime

Academy Award-winning documentary filmmaker, Jean-Xavier de Lestrade, presents a gripping courtroom thriller, offering a rare and revealing inside look at a high-profile murder trial. In 2001, author Michael Peterson was arraigned for the murder of his wife Kathleen, whose body was discovered lying in a pool of blood on the stairway of their home. Granted unusual access to Peterson's lawyers, home and immediate family, de Lestrade's cameras capture the defense team as it considers its strategic options. The series is an engrossing look at contemporary American justice that features more twists than a legal bestseller.

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Seasons & Episodes

1
0
EP13  Flawed Justice
Jun. 08,2018
Flawed Justice

Michael speaks to a reporter about the reasons behind his plea. Later, Kathleen's sister delivers a statement of defiance in court.

EP12  Between Anger and Despair
Jun. 08,2018
Between Anger and Despair

Their faith in the justice system forever shaken, Michael and his family discuss what they can hope to achieve by continuing the fight.

EP11  Looking for Closure
Jun. 08,2018
Looking for Closure

Following two and a half years of house arrest, Michael must decide whether to push for a plea or risk his freedom with a new trial.

EP10  The Last Chance
Jan. 30,2013
The Last Chance

After more experts testify about the questionable conclusions and claims of Duane Deaver, the judge rules on whether a new trial is necessary.

EP9  Reopening the Case
Jan. 30,2013
Reopening the Case

Eight years later, the possibility that a key witness for the prosecution may have misled the jury could prompt the need for a new trial.

EP8  The Verdict
Oct. 28,2004
The Verdict

Is Michael Peterson guilty or not guilty? The jury delivers its verdict regarding the mysterious death of his wife, Kathleen.

EP7  The Blow Poke Returns
Oct. 28,2004
The Blow Poke Returns

Kathleen's sisters pore over Michael's writings. Jurors visit the staircase at Michael's home. A vital piece of evidence reappears.

EP6  The Prosecution's Revenge
Oct. 21,2004
The Prosecution's Revenge

A witness brings surprising levity to the stand. The judge rules on an important matter, and Michael's alleged temper comes under scrutiny.

EP5  A Weak Case
Oct. 21,2004
A Weak Case

The prosecution presents its case while the defense strives to cast a reasonable doubt within the minds of the jury.

EP4  A Prosecution Trickery
Oct. 14,2004
A Prosecution Trickery

As the trial looms and media attention heats up, an autopsy report's wording ruffles the feathers of the defense team.

EP3  A Striking Coincidence
Oct. 14,2004
A Striking Coincidence

The death of another woman close to Peterson from 17 years earlier sparks a new investigation. She also died on a staircase, casting major doubts over the defense case.

EP2  Secrets and Lies
Oct. 07,2004
Secrets and Lies

As Michael's hidden life comes out into the open, defense experts debate if it will have a significant impact on the coming trial.

EP1  Crime or Accident?
Oct. 07,2004
Crime or Accident?

Following his wife's suspicious death, Michael Peterson speaks about his version of the events while lawyers and expert witnesses prepare for trial.

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7.8 | TV-MA | en | Crime , Documentary | More Info
Released: 2004-10-07 | Released Producted By: Maha Productions , Country: France Budget: 0 Revenue: 0 Official Website: https://www.netflix.com/title/80233441
Synopsis

Academy Award-winning documentary filmmaker, Jean-Xavier de Lestrade, presents a gripping courtroom thriller, offering a rare and revealing inside look at a high-profile murder trial. In 2001, author Michael Peterson was arraigned for the murder of his wife Kathleen, whose body was discovered lying in a pool of blood on the stairway of their home. Granted unusual access to Peterson's lawyers, home and immediate family, de Lestrade's cameras capture the defense team as it considers its strategic options. The series is an engrossing look at contemporary American justice that features more twists than a legal bestseller.

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Stream Online

The tv show is currently not available onine

Cast

Michael Peterson , Ron Guerette , Tom Maher

Director

Jean-Xavier de Lestrade

Producted By

Maha Productions ,

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Trailers

Reviews

progers-18321 I watched" The Staircase" on Netflix, from beginning to the end . Early on in the investigation Mike Peterson stated "His wife Kathrine knew he was a homosexual but they didn't talk about it."In an interview near the end, Mike Peterson talks about his homosexuality and that he "Didn't Come Out to Katherine."
jerkassstore I agree with a couple of reviews below. Firstly, this thing is dragged out. Secondly, I guess it was made in partnership, in some way, with the defense so really focuses on Peterson's side of the story without really giving a fair focus on the prosecution's side. Peterson did also come across to me as, not only a narcissist, but a raging sociopath. The defense is pretty flimsy. I mean, really how in the hell could a human gush so much blood from falling down some stairs? Has that ever happened in history? The defense makes a point that in a blunt trauma beating there is always some kind of fracture or whatever. Who cares!? Maybe Peterson didn't cause blunt trauma with the blow poke. He could've used a raking motion or something to cause lacerations. Stuff like that isn't explained and I don't understand why. My feelings is that the prosecution didn't have quite enough evidence to convict Peterson without a reasonable doubt but at the same time the defense IS pretty flimsy.In any case we're dealing with raging sociopaths, motivated probably by money. Once the victim found out her husband was banging gay guys, most likely some kind of monetary consequence was revealed, divorce or whatnot. While at the same time we have idiotic prosecutors with their lying and evidence tampering to prosecute Peterson at any cost. But really, who's kidding who. He did it. Peterson's guilty. Period. I mean, maybe he didn't do it. Maybe it was a ghost, right? There's no way in hell all that blood was caused by a stair fall. No way.
kelly611 Good documentary....Want to be a GREAT documentary?!?!.... Toooo one sided to the defense's case. Don't only depict your side by the angles you portray....Film both sides & let the audience decided as a jury themselves!!!! To bad NOT ENOUGH EVIDENCE. NEITHER side could ACTUALLY prove their case!!!! Is a guilty man getting off or a free man getting crucified. Only Michael & Kathleen will EVER know!!!! YOU DON'T GET THOSE WOUNDS FROM 3 stairs & it's sad that people will defend NO MATTER WHAT for the prestige of a case!!
billmarsano What's interesting here, and supported by the judge's on-camera statements, is that the prosecution offered perjured evidence by Mr. Deaver and manipulated or hid inconvenient evidence, and relied excessively on the inflammatory bisexuality angle. Apparently the medical examiner changed her opinion under pressure from her superior; how was that discovered? What if anything was done about Deaver's perjury? Were other cases he'd handled examined? And here's what we get from IMDB reviewers: the director's purported sexual affair with Peterson, a $1.4 insurance policy on Kathleen (was it paid and to whom?), the German conclusion that went from accident to homicide and back again, and more. Some IMDB-ers stated that the documentary couldn't cover everything, but as an experienced editor (of narrative text, though not film), I think that view is wrong-headed. There is an appalling amount of flab in this documentary that ought to have been cut, much of it footage of Peterson blabbing on and on, saying mostly the same things repeatedly. I couldn't believe that so much of that hadn't been cut-it struck me as amateurish editing. Many of questions noted above could have been covered if room had been made for them. I felt the director was struggling desperately to fill more episodes. In the end, despite some good content, I don't see this thing winning any awards, and many of IMDB's rave reviews struck me as merely enthusiastic rather than analytical. FYI, I tried to get the BBC podcast and the sister's article mentioned by Shoyt_2001 and andy-love, but all my clicking got me was "can't find".