she was on flexeril which is, apparently, a muscle relaxant oh yeah. she was in a great deal of pain all the time reporter: for michael peterson, the trial was hard enough to bear, but the family spilt made it even worse. there was kathleen s daughter, caitlin, across the room in the prosecution s camp and behind him the whole time, his girls, margaret and martha they were sisters they loved one another they helped one another. and that s been the biggest, to me, the sadness that everything that kathleen wanted to make happen and did happen as far as the family was torn asunder. reporter: michael s story is one he says those closest to him have known for years that information reporter: a story his lawyers were about to present to the jury and they had an ace up their sleeve, a moment straight out of perry mason. one that would leave mouths agape in the courtroom that s a blow poke isn t it