Sundance Channel presents the acclaimed true-crime documentary The Staircase, an eight-part series by Oscar®-winning director Jean-Xavier de Lestrade (Murder on a Sunday Morning). The Staircase, which follows the thrilling twists and turns of the investigation into the cause of death of Durham, NC resident and Nortel executive Kathleen Peterson, will premiere as a special Sundance Channel DOCday series beginning on April 4, 2005, with two episodes airing back-to- back every Monday night at 9:00pm.

The Staircase, a Maha Films production, is the latest film by de Lestrade, who won the 2002 Academy Award® for Best Documentary Feature for Murder on a Sunday Morning. It was produced by Oscar-winning producer Denis Poncet.

The Staircase delves into the mystery surrounding the death of Kathleen Peterson, a Nortel executive who was married to novelist Michael Peterson. On the night of December 9, 2001, an agitated Michael Peterson called 911 and told the operator that he had found his wife, unconscious but still breathing, at the bottom of the stairs. When the police arrived, they found Kathleen lying dead in a pool of blood and began treating the home as a crime scene. One week later, Michael Peterson was charged with first-degree murder.

In eight tautly structured chapters, The Staircase takes viewers inside an unpredictable real-life drama, as Peterson’s sons and adopted daughters rally to his defense and his legal team prepares to battle the prosecution. Meanwhile, Durham’s district attorney and his assistant build a case that will put the Peterson marriage – and Michael Peterson’s private life – at the center of the trial. Reviewing the series, which ran in Canada as Death on the Staircase, Henrietta Walmark of The Globe and Mail wrote, “Death on the Staircase is a rare thing: an eight-hour documentary with twists and turns as compelling as any found in classic whodunits…. It's a masterful work from Jean-Xavier de Lestrade … that will leave you unsettled.”

Episodes and airdates for The Staircase are as follows:

Monday April 4th at 9:00pm

Chapter 1: Crime or Accident. Michael Peterson recalls the night of December 9, 2001, which began with dinner, wine and a rented movie, and ended with his wife Kathleen’s death. After Peterson is charged with murder, his attorney David Rudolf begins working with the investigators and experts who will be critical to Peterson’s defense.

Chapter 2: Secrets and Lies. Shocking revelations about Michael Peterson’s private life pose new issues for his defense team, as it becomes clear that the prosecution will use these details to torpedo characterizations of the Peterson marriage as idyllic. Peterson discusses the culture and politics of Durham, subjects he frequently addressed when he was writing a local newspaper column.

Monday April 11th at 9:00pm

Chapter 3: A Striking Coincidence. In the spring of 2002, the case takes another surprising turn when prosecutors turn their attention to the 1985 death of Elizabeth Ratliff, a military widow who was found dead at the bottom of the stairs of her home in Germany. The last person to have seen Ratliff alive is believed to have been her close friend and neighbor, Michael Peterson. Peterson subsequently adopted Ratliff’s two daughters, who must now deal with new accusations against the man who raised them.

Chapter 4: A Prosecution Trickery. The defense team is forced to contend with the prosecution’s latest bombshell concerning the death of Elizabeth Ratliff. In April 2003, there is a pre-trail hearing regarding evidence, a proceeding that ends with yet another twist. On July 1, 2003, the trial begins with opening statements.

Monday April 18th at 9:00pm

Chapter 5: A Weak Case. District Attorney Jim Hardin lays out the prosecution’s case and calls witnesses to testify about three points of evidence: the amount of blood at the scene; Kathleen’s head lacerations; and the potential murder weapon, a fireplace tool called a blowpoke. Rudolf puts on a tough cross-examination.

Chapter 6: The Prosecution’s Revenge. The court rules on key evidentiary issues, and the prosecution calls several witnesses who give emotionally charged testimony. Meanwhile, the trial is receiving extensive and often sensational coverage in the media.

Monday April 25th at 9:00pm

Chapter 7: The Blowpoke Returns. The defense begins presenting its case, which relies heavily upon such experts as a biomechanical engineer and a prominent forensic scientist. But the outcome may finally come down to a stunning find by Michael Peterson’s oldest son.

Chapter 8: The Verdict. The long trial reaches its conclusion and Michael Peterson learns his fate – at least, for the immediate future.

Episodes of The Staircase will replay in April on Tuesdays at 11:00pm, Thursdays at 8:00pm, and Sundays at 2:00pm. The first four episodes will also air back-to-back on Friday April 15th, starting at 8:00pm, and the last four will air Friday April 29th, starting at 8:00pm. All eight episodes will air on Sunday May 1st, beginning at 2:00pm. Please visit www.sundancechannel.com for all repeat airdates.

Under the creative direction of Robert Redford, Sundance Channel brings television viewers daring and engaging feature films, shorts, documentaries, world cinema and animation, shown uncut and with no commercials. Through its original programs, Sundance Channel connects viewers with filmmakers, the creative process, and the world of independent film. Launched in 1996, Sundance Channel is a venture between NBC Universal, Robert Redford, and Showtime Networks Inc. Sundance Channel operates independently of the non-profit Sundance Institute and the Sundance Film Festival, but shares the overall Sundance mission of supporting independent artists and providing them with wider opportunities to present their work to audiences.