forensics. this really becomes a case about science, doesn t it? if the science didn t work, if the jury didn t understand it or didn t buy into it, it was gonna be a not guilty. dr. diane scala barnett, the coroner who had performed the autopsy on dana s exhumed body told the jury she d been able to get a better look at dana s skull than the first coroner. i saw separate fractures and the pattern of fractures only after the bone was cleaned. there were three impact patterns, three distinct patterns. and what would have caused those? a beating. a beating? some sort of bludgeoning instrument absolutely. unknown, was used? absolutely. but there s no question there were three impact sites on the skull? no question. and this was not at all consistent with falling out of a car. not at all. not in my experience. y shaped incision reporter: it was gruesome testimony for brittany to sit through. the one thing i wasn t prepared for as much but i toughed it ou
forensics. this really becomes a case about science, doesn t it? if the science didn t work, if the jury didn t understand it or didn t buy into it, it was gonna be a not guilty. reporter: dr. diane scala barnett, the coroner who had performed the autopsy on dana s exhumed body told the jury she d been able to get a better look at dana s skull than the first coroner. i saw separate fractures and the pattern of fractures only after the bone was cleaned. there were three impact patterns, three distinct patterns. and what would have caused those? a beating. a beating? some sort of bludgeoning instrument absolutely. unknown, was used? absolutely. but there s no question there were three impact sites on the skull? no question. and this was not at all consistent with falling out of a car. not at all. not in my experience. y shaped incision reporter: it was gruesome testimony for brittany to sit through. the one thing i wasn t prepared for as much but i t
reporter: it was gruesome testimony for brittany to sit through. the one thing i wasn t prepared for as much but i toughed it out was the autopsy pictures. very tough? right. did they tell you this is gonna be the day and you may wanna step outside? they did. and i said, no, you know? i m here from the beginning to the end every second no matter what. large area of bruising to listen to the experts testify that she had three blows, distinct, different blows you just hope she didn t suffer. reporter: but what had caused these terrible injuries? the prosecution had a theory. what we believe happened is that on the way home, he may have tried to do something to dana that she didn t want him to do it. it may have resulted in a confrontation, she s either ordered out of the car or she gets out of the car. perhaps, more words are exchanged, but she was walking away from that vehicle, and he came up behind her and he struck her on the back of the head
the escort had been revealed in a search that was deemed illegal. the search warrant that resulted in the seizure of the computer was found to be invalid. reporter: furthermore, that dramatic trial within a trial about michael s long-dead friend in germany? well, a change in north carolina state law regarding the admissibility of evidence meant a second jury might not hear that story either. the male escort is gone, the death in germany is gone, the expert blood testimony is gone. you re left with the autopsy pictures. reporter: yeah? the medical examiner s testimony. and maybe the prosecution s theory for motive. is that enough? reporter: the stars seemed to be aligning for michael peterson. perhaps vindication was at hand. but one final twist was on the way. i said, well, that s just not going to happen. i would go back to prison before that happens. i won t do it. coming up, michael makes a
prepared for as much but i toughed it out was the autopsy pictures. very tough? right. did they tell you this is gonna be the day and you may wanna step outside? they did. and i said, no, you know? i m here from the beginning to the end every second no matter what. large area of bruising to listen to the experts testify that she had three blows, distinct, different blows you just hope she didn t suffer. reporter: but what had caused these terrible injuries? the prosecution had a theory. what we believe happened is that on the way home, he may have tried to do something to dana that she didn t want him to do it. it may have resulted in a confrontation, she s either ordered out of the car or she gets out of the car. perhaps, more words are exchanged, but she was walking away from that vehicle, and he came up behind her and he struck her on the back of the head and immediately dropped her to the ground and as she s laying on the ground, struck her at least two more t