Chapter 171 Section 20

Duane DeVille also said that according to the forensic autopsy report, there were no bloodstains in the deceased's mouth, nose and other respiratory tracts, so there was no such thing as the death in the stairwell that the defendant's defense lawyer David Rudolph said in his opening speech. The blood pattern "could be blood from a cough or spit from a sneeze". The defense's cross-examination of Duane DeVille lasted two days.Under the repeated questioning of David Rudolph and Thomas Meyer, Duane almost answered every step in his calculation process and simulation experiment.

When Duane DeVille stepped off the witness stand, as the reporters reported the next day, "The real fun begins!" Attorney General Janemond Harding asked the jurors to forget about Catherine Peterson for a moment because the prosecution had to make some time and space shifts, taking the jurors back 18 years and thousands of miles Germany. For the first time since the court session, Mike Peterson's face appeared stunned and uncomfortable.According to the observations of many jurors, Mr. Peterson has always been able to "keep his composure". Even at certain "climaxes" during the testimony of "Brad" and Duane DeVille, Mr. Peterson They can all be calm and calm, still talking and laughing with their families and children during the inter-court break, and still nodding when they meet the eyes of the jurors.But at this moment, he supported his forehead with the palm of his hand, shaking his head and panting.

Inspector General Harding went on to say that the incident began on Sunday night, December 9, 2001, after a telephone conversation between the Ratley sisters' aunt Margaret Blair and her niece Margaret , Immediately dialed the Durhan City Police Station.She told Lieutenant Art Holland that on November 25, 1985, her sister and the Ratley sisters' biological mother, Liz Mok Ratley, also fell down the stairs 16 years ago and ended up with She was with, also, Mike Peterson. Mike Peterson was right that Liz had been sad and depressed for a long time after her husband's death, and Captain George Ratley's uniform and boots were still there, as if waiting for conscripts to return.

Liz was not good at managing money, and it was Mike Peterson who helped her with her daily bills, checked her monthly bank reports, and later helped her revise her will.Liz and George Ratley's original joint will stated that in the event of the couple's death, their two daughters would be raised by George's parents and, if the grandparents were unable to do so for whatever reason, by Peter. The Sons were raised.In Liz Ratley's new will, this paragraph was changed to "I hereby appoint Mike I. and Patricia S. Peterson as guardians of my minor children, to maintain them jointly and severally until Adulthood, or independence." The will also authorizes the Petersons to use the estate left by Liz Ratley as the living and education expenses of the Ratley sisters.

Shortly after George's death, Liz Ratley hired a live-in nanny, Barbara Ohora, in her 20s, to look after her two children and do housework.About a year later, in the summer of 1985, Mike Peterson said that Barbara was young enough to have a life of her own, and Liz took the old friend's advice and paid for another apartment for Barbara.Since then, Barbara Ohora no longer lived with the Ratley mother and daughter, and rode a bicycle every day to go out early and return late. In October, the second anniversary of George Ratley's death, although Liz Ratley was also very sad, she has cheered up a lot compared to a year ago, and is no longer so sad and depressed.She often talks with Barbara Ohora about her future plans to return to the United States and find a teaching position in her hometown of George, Texas.When she returned to the United States in the coffin two years ago, the Ratley family sympathized with her, which made Lishi unforgettable.Liz hoped that Barbara would go with the three of their wives. She even inquired about the relevant departments of the Rhine May Air Force Base, because her husband was a soldier who died in the line of duty. US visa procedures.

On Saturday, November 23 of that year, there was a heavy snowfall in Frankfurt, and Barbara Ohora did not return to her apartment that night, but stayed overnight at the Ratleys.Although Barbara moved out, Liz still kept her room. The next day, Sunday, November 24, Barbara left after lunch.In the afternoon, Liz took the girls out for sledding, and then went to Peterson's house for dinner.When it was time for the children to go to bed, Mike Peterson sent the Ratleys and the three back home.After Margaret and Martha fell asleep, Liz drove to a nearby car repair shop, followed by Mike in his own car.Liz left her BMW at the shop for repairs, then took Mike's car home.

At around 10 p.m., Liz's neighbor, Colum Ham, looked out of his window and saw Mike Peterson coming out of the Ratley house.He jumped down the steps in three steps and two steps, put his hands in the pockets of his jeans, and turned his head while running. On the morning of Monday, November 25, Barbara Ohora shook her head as she looked out of the window at the snowfall. It seemed that she would not be able to ride her bicycle again.Barbara called the taxi company, and a driver named Salvatore Maranino came to pick her up after a while. It was just 7:15 when the taxi arrived at Ratley's house, and it was still dark.Usually at this time, Liz should be up, and in about half an hour, Patricia Peterson will come and call her, and then the two will go to work at Rhine May Air Force Base Elementary School together.

Barbara felt something was wrong as soon as she got out of the car.Usually at this time, Liz would only turn on the lights in the kitchen, but today, all the lights in the Ratley house were on. Barbara took out her key and opened the door, taking off her boots at the door.The heating in Ratley's house runs under the floor, so you can go barefoot in the house even in winter.The door is facing the kitchen.Usually before going to bed the night before, Liz would prepare the tableware and other things for breakfast, so as not to be in a hurry in the morning.But today, Barbara did not see the oatmeal box and the porridge pot on the stove, nor the cups, plates, and forks on the table.

Moreover, Barbara did not hear Liz's voice, nor did she hear any movement.In fact, the house was eerily quiet.Barbara could only smell a greasy strange smell in the air, and then, she saw a large pool of blood at the foot of the stairs, and a body on the right side, face down, curled up in a pool of blood.Barbara didn't recognize the man at the time, and she rushed up the stairs, bypassing the pool of blood and the body, calling, "Lies, Liz, are you all right?"