episode. but here at trial, a defense psychiatrist testified todd suffered from real mental issues, dissociative disorder, conversion disorder, which meant he could be violent if he felt he was under attack. and that awful morning? first he told the police she threatened to sic her well-armed boyfriend on him. >> and she said, "no, you know, i'm looking to have my boyfriend get rid of you." >> reporter: and then -- >> she was coming at me with a vee of scissors. >> reporter: rachel's dad, don, and self-described soulmate, soulmate, james, watched as the defense argued that todd had no choice but to kill the woman they so loved. >> his state of mind is what you really need to pay careful attention to here. he knows she'll kill him. he knows if he doesn't end it, it could end him. >> reporter: all very sad, said the defense, but not murder. and what would prosecutor suder say about that?