The Staircase

Somewhat disappointing, after reading all the rave reviews on this one. Spending close to six hours watching this, made me wanting to know more about the prosecutors' point of view. It also left me a bit in the blue as to whether this guy really is innocent or not. For a documentary presented as being so close to the drama, after all it wasn't that close, really. After the third episode it all becomes very repetitive. But I guess, that's the justice system for you ; )

A week ago I would have given this series five stars. It once was my favorite doc series, however after having watched it for a second time, I was stillbaffled and just couldn't make sense of the verdict. I figured that there MUST be material, issues and evidence of many sorts missing that director Lestrade decided not to get into.

And boy, was there!! After having glimpsed at partial court transcripts and crucial evidence that is not ever mentioned in the series - as Lestrade decided to let much of it end up on the cutting room floor - I'm pretty sure that I have my answer as to Michael Peterson's guilt.

The Staircase gives its' viewers the impression that Peterson has been solely incriminated based on his bi-sexuality and lifestyle, by the prosecution. Which in part he defenately has been a victim of, however the real important evidence the director - who has given us a much more honest Academy Award winning doc in the past - decided to leave out to make for a more exciting and outrageous story.

Bummer.

This film about a murder case, about the trial after it, is one of these American films, in fact a TV mini-series, on a real case that does not go in the normal direction, the direction of what we all should think not truth is but justice should be. There is such an enormous amount of doubt about the case, about the guilt and even about the murder itself that it is unbelievable that a unanimous verdict of guilt came out of the jury pool. Such cases are examples for us to question the system of justice we set up over the last four centuries. And the judge decided to impose life imprisonment but for first degree murder it could have been the death penalty. It is such cases that prove that jury justice is maybe good in many cases but there are a few cases where it is the worst possible system, and that is why the death penalty should be gotten rid of, and that's why we should make sure the defendants, now sentenced culprits, have access to all possibilities and opportunities to appeal the decision and to have the best councilors available. Jury justice in a world that is so deeply cut in small antagonistic pieces does not work in any sensitive delicate case because of any kind of un-namable bias having to do with race, wealth, age, sex, sexual orientation, and any other parameter you may think of. This case should be compared to other cases where the reverse decision was reached, but the model of such a case of failed justice was clearly written in a book and set to the screen a long time ago: "To Kill a Mocking Bird". Miscarriage of justice due to some kind of totally unmentionable prejudice. I am not sure though that the conclusion of "Romeo and Juliet" is the proper one here: "They are all Punished", because in Romeo and Juliet's case there was no trial, and especially no jury trial.

Dr Jacques COULARDEAU, University Paris Dauphine, University Paris 1 Pantheon Sorbonne & University Versailles Saint Quentin en Yvelines

I thought this was a great series, albeit a little one sided in Michael Peterson's favor, based on the Michael Peterson case. If you ever want to see the inner workings of a homicide trial on the defendant's side watch this!

Something about how this was filmed makes this one of the most compelling and thrilling documentaries I've ever watched. I found myself obsessed with getting to the next episode; like a great book. It follows what was an incredible story and trial.