Based on a true story, new Sky drama, The Staircase explores the life of Michael Peterson, his sprawling North Carolina family, and the suspicious death of his wife, Kathleen Peterson. The eight-part true-crime drama follows Netflix's 2018 documentary series, also called The Staircase.
The director of that documentary, Jean-Xavier de Lestrade, first released his documentary on the case way back in 2004 and there's a lot to take in about the story, which we'll try and summarize, below, where there'll be spoilers so keep that in mind. In the meantime, here's what you need to know about the drama.
When is The Staircase on UK TV and how to watch it?
The eight-part true-crime drama starts on Thursday, May 5 at 9pm on Sky Atlantic/Now TV. Episode one - three will air on May 5 and you'll be able to catch-up with the episodes after they have aired. The series will then continue the following Thursday, May 12, with episode four.
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Who's in the cast for The Staircase?
Starring alongside Colin Firth and Toni Collette as Michael and Kathleen Peterson, are Michael Stuhlbarg ( Your Honor ) , Juliette Binoche (Chocolat), Dane DeHaan (ZeroZeroZero), Olivia DeJonge (Elvis), Rosemarie DeWitt (Little Fires Everywhere), Tim Guinee (Inventing Anna), Patrick Schwarzenegger (Moxie), Sophie Turner (Game of Thrones), Vincent Vermignon (Romy and Michele's High School Reunion), Odessa Young (Shirley) and Parker Posey (Lost in Space).
What's the story behind The Staircase?
Back in December 2001 novelist Michael Peterson called 911 to report that his wife had fallen down the stairs, suggesting it was due to her alcohol and Valium intake - though toxicology reports later disproved that. After her body had been examined it was revealed that Kathleen was bludgeoned to death - and due to her husband being the only person in the house at the time he became prime suspect.
At trial in 2003 he was found guilty of her murder. Prosecution argued that he'd killed her after she found pictures of naked men on his computer and emails to a male escort and killed her with a metal tube used for stoking the fire.
Peterson maintained his innocence. Five years after his conviction the story takes another twist. Kathleen died after being attacked by an owl.
Yes, you read that right, an owl. The Peterson's neighbour suggested that the injuries on Kathleen's scalp were consistent with being attacked by a barred owl. A reexamination in 2009 of evidence found that Kathleen had a tiny feather in her hair and that wood from a tree limb was tangled up in the hair which had been pulled out of her head by the roots.
So is Michael Peterson still in jail?
He is not. In 2011 a judge threw out the result of the original trial and ordered a retrial as the conviction was unsound. Fast-forward to 2017 and Peterson entered what is called an Alford plea to voluntary manslaughter.
This means that the accused can admit that a prosecution has enough evidence to convict them, but not admit guilt for the crime.
He was freed because his new sentence was 86 weeks in prison, but he had already served that.
