Here is a case I have read a lot about in the newspaper because it occurred close to where I live. It is a good
example of not denying that you committed the crime.
On December 9, 2001, Durham, NC novelist Michael Peterson returned home to find his wife, Kathleen, lying dead
at the base of a staircase. Peterson called 911 and told the operator his wife had been injured in a fall.
As the police conducted their investigation, they began to doubt Peterson's story. The medical examiner said Kathleen
had died from a blow to the back of her head. Several weeks later, Peterson was indicted for killing his wife.
Peterson wasn't giving many statements concerning the death of his wife. However, on March 18, 2002, Peterson
gave an interview with television station WRAL. When he was asked if he was worried
about the approaching trial, he replied:
"No.Absolutely not.I'm not worried about what's going to happen because I know what happened
and what did not happen, and I know it'll all work out."
Deceptive people try to convince you they are telling the truth. Often times they will do this by repeating their
claim. Three times Peterson tells us he is not worried.
His statement "I know what happened and what did not happen" is suppose to be a denial. He wants us to assume
that he knows it was an accident and that he knows he did not kill his wife. However, this is not a denial. He did not
state "I didn't do it." or "I didn't kill her." This is typical
language from a guilty person. Remember, people do not like to lie so they make statements which only sound like a denial.
Peterson's statement is truthful. He does know what happened and what did not happened. And, everything will work out.
However, he does not tell us
what he knows. In some ways, this is an incriminating statement. If he came home and found his wife at the bottom of
the stairs, he would not be able to make this claim. He would not have been there to witness what transpired. He can
speculate she fell down the stairs, but he tells us "I know what happened."
Later in the interview he states:
"I don't know if it was murder. I don't know. When I called 911, I thought she had fallen down the stairs
and as far as I know, that's what happened."
Again we have him repeating something. More importantly we have him changing his story. Earlier he stated, "I know what
happened." Now he tells us he does not know if it was murder. I thought he knew happened and what did not happened!
The word "thought" tells us he does not know for sure what happened. Even if he pushed her down the stairs, this
is still a truthful statement. If you push someone hard enough, they will fall down.
His statement "as far as I know that's what happened" is not as strong as his previous statement "I know what happened
and what did not happened." He is not as committed to his story by saying "as far as I know."
Throughout this interview, I never heard Peterson state "I didn't kill her" or "I didn't do it." Remember, when
people say, "I am innocent" they are denying the conclusion that they are guilty. However, when people
say, "I didn't do it" they are denying the action. Peterson never denies the act of killing his wife. Peterson is
currently on trial for murdering his wife Kathleen Peterson.
Interview with Michael Peterson's ex-wife
I receive an email with a link to an interview that was conducted with Michael Peterson's first wife Patricia
Peterson. She spoke with to Eyewitness News reporter Sonya Pfeiffer on April 12, 2002.
Q: "What was your relationship with Michael like?"
A: "I knew his intellect, his spirit, his soul, his passion, his humor, his wit-- all aspects of his personality. We
share care, concern for our children. I hold his family in high respect and I love him very much."
Q: "There are people that believe Michael killed Kathleen- including the DA, the Grand Jury that indicted him- do you
think they're completely off base?"
A: "My assumption and my hope is they are going to find the truth and that he is innocent. Again I believe in the
institutions of our country."
Patricia Paterson did not answer the question with a “yes” or “no.”
“My assumption.....that he is innocent.” “....my hope....that he is innocent.”
This is not the same as saying “I know
he is innocent” or “I know he did not kill her.”
Q: "Have you ever known Michael to lie?"
A: "No, not directly. I have no knowledge of that."
She answers the question with a “no.” However, she then qualifies her answer by saying “not directly.”
This means there is the possibility that Michael Peterson lied indirectly. It could also mean that Patricia Paterson
indirectly knew him to lie.
Q: "So you're saying he's never lied to you."
A: "No, not directly."
If she wanted to state that he has never lied to her, she should have answered this question with a “yes.”
By answering with a “no” she is stating that the question “You’re saying he’s never lied to you” is incorrect.
She again repeats “No, not directly” which he means he may have lied indirectly.
Q: "Did he ever hit you?"
A: "I would say no."
She now changes her language. The two previous questions she answered with a “no.” Now she states “I would say no.”
This is not as strong as “no.” There is a possibility that he did hit her.
Q: "Did he ever threaten you?"
A: "Michael Peterson did not exhibit towards me any negative characteristics in the manner you describe."
The shortest answer is the best answer. We would expect her to answer this question with a “no” as she has done
with previous questions. We do not know what she means by “negative characteristics.” She has not directly told us
that he never threatened her.
Q: "Was he ever violent in any way?"
A: "No."
Here she answers the question. If she says he was not violent, we can believe he was not violent.
Q: "Has he ever suggested to you he could be violent?"
A: "In my knowledge of him as an individual, in 40 years he has never exhibited any violence that would terminate
the life of an individual or harm another individual."
She qualifies her answer with "violence that would terminate the life of an individual or harm another individual."
This could mean he expressed other types of viloence. However, in the previous question she denied that he was ever
violent in any way.
Q: "If Michael Peterson confessed to this crime, would you be able to support him?"
A: "It would be totally contrary to my experience with him as a human being for forty years. I've known him in his youth,
his middle age, as a soldier serving his country, as a loving father as a man who has loved me and other individuals."
She does not answer the question “would you be able to support him?”
She states that she knew him in several ways "as a soldier.....as a loving father" etc. She does not mention that she
knew him as a spouse.
Q: "If you had the opportunity to say one thing to those who believe Michael killed Kathleen, what would you want to say to them?"
A: "Based on his character as a human being, as an individual, as a father, a husband, and a community member, he is not guilty."
It is interesting to look at the order in which she talks about his character:
1. as a human being
2. as an individual
3. as a father
4. as a husband
5. as a community leader
His character as a husband is low on the list.
Update
Michael Peterson was found guilty of killing his wife Kathleen Peterson. On October 10, 2003,
he was sentenced to life in prison without parole.
