Peter Van Sant

Decomposition. Correct. The search for Mark Stover had stretched across the state of Washington. the one person who could end that search decided to be Coy. Are you willing to tell authorities where you placed Mark Stover's body?

This is going to be a dramatic week.

This is going to be a dramatic week.

I'm Peter Van Sant. From 48 Hours, it's Trained to Kill, the dog trainer, the heiress, and the bodyguard. Episode six, time will tell. Michael Oakes has been accused of a murder of Mark Stover. What do you say? Prove it. That's John Henry Brown. He was Michael Oak's lead defense attorney. We spoke in 2010. So my defense is prove it. First, I have to prove there's a murder. Right?

I'm Peter Van Sant. From 48 Hours, it's Trained to Kill, the dog trainer, the heiress, and the bodyguard. Episode six, time will tell. Michael Oakes has been accused of a murder of Mark Stover. What do you say? Prove it. That's John Henry Brown. He was Michael Oak's lead defense attorney. We spoke in 2010. So my defense is prove it. First, I have to prove there's a murder. Right?

Brown is a brilliant showman known for making arguments in court that could fit into the final scene of a primetime legal drama. We've got blood. Right. We've got shell casings. Correct. Got a dog that was shot. Correct. But we don't have a body. Correct.

Brown is a brilliant showman known for making arguments in court that could fit into the final scene of a primetime legal drama. We've got blood. Right. We've got shell casings. Correct. Got a dog that was shot. Correct. But we don't have a body. Correct.

When it comes to representing accused killers, Brown has been around the block. He titled his memoir, The Devil's Defender, to highlight a career spent arguing on behalf of defendants he considered evil. His client list included one of the most notorious serial killers in American history, Ted Bundy, who said he had murdered 30 people.

When it comes to representing accused killers, Brown has been around the block. He titled his memoir, The Devil's Defender, to highlight a career spent arguing on behalf of defendants he considered evil. His client list included one of the most notorious serial killers in American history, Ted Bundy, who said he had murdered 30 people.

Brown argued instead that Mark Stover represented the evil in this case, not his client.

Brown argued instead that Mark Stover represented the evil in this case, not his client.

In court, they planned to make the case that Michael shot Mark in self-defense. The trial started in September 2010, less than a year after Mark Stover was killed.

In court, they planned to make the case that Michael shot Mark in self-defense. The trial started in September 2010, less than a year after Mark Stover was killed.

That's Judge Mike Rickert.

That's Judge Mike Rickert.

Judge Rickard said this turned out to be one of the stranger cases he had presided over.

Judge Rickard said this turned out to be one of the stranger cases he had presided over.

Witnesses included detectives, some of Mark's former employees, and Michael's second wife, Jennifer Thompson, who told jurors that Michael said, if police saw what was in the back of my car, I'd go to prison for life. But it was Michael himself who played the leading role in this trial. when he took the stand.

Witnesses included detectives, some of Mark's former employees, and Michael's second wife, Jennifer Thompson, who told jurors that Michael said, if police saw what was in the back of my car, I'd go to prison for life. But it was Michael himself who played the leading role in this trial. when he took the stand.

Yes, Mr. Oakes. Mr. Oakes, come on up. His defense attorney, John Henry Brown, wanted Michael to explain why he had to defend himself.