jason young brutally murdered michelle young at their residence." >> reporter: freeman went on to testify that jason never responded to the allegations. and that led to a default judgment against him. that judgment said jason killed his wife. >> a default judgment does not mean the facts alleged in the civil complaint are true. it does not mean he's guilty. and the judge at the criminal trial told the jury that in his instructions. however, when you hear the statement "jason young brutally murdered his wife but that doesn't mean he's guilty, folks." hello. you know? >> reporter: and the prosecutor made sure the jury heard just who signed that ruling. >> i'm reading from this judgment which is signed actually by judge stephens. >> reporter: judge stephens, the very judge sitting before them in this trial. >> the jury hearing that, it's just something that's going to carry a lot of weight. >> this is the complaint that