>> were you and your mom close? >> very close. >> reporter: kevin was instructed by his attorneys, allison miller and jessica manuele, to talk directly to the jurors. >> we said, if you expect them to believe what you're saying, you better look them in the eye and tell them the truth. >> did you ever call your mom a [ expletive ]. >> i did. >> did you ever call your mom a retard? >> unfortunately, i did. >> we said, "kevin, is this true? are you disrespectful?" "yes, ma'am." "well then, you concede it all." >> reporter: a pre-emptive strike, part of the plan to soften kevin and give jurors reason to doubt that an immature, bratty 23-year-old could turn into a cold-blooded killer. >> what this jury wants to hear is you say you didn't kill your mother. >> kevin, did you kill your mom? >> no, ma'am. >> reporter: but evidence of kevin's blood on diane's thigh had always been the defense's toughest challenge. >> the state's theory is the blood got there once bill and kevin start struggling. >> reporter: but from day one, kevin had maintained he never entered the room when he was attacked by bill. now, he would give himself and