Peter Van Sant

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

Remember, Detective Dan Luvera said it was highly improbable that Michael could shoot Mark in self-defense immediately after being shot himself, even if he was wearing a bulletproof vest. So Brown asked Michael to reenact the shooting to show that it was possible.

Remember, Detective Dan Luvera said it was highly improbable that Michael could shoot Mark in self-defense immediately after being shot himself, even if he was wearing a bulletproof vest. So Brown asked Michael to reenact the shooting to show that it was possible.

Brown asked Michael to put on a Kevlar vest like the one he wore on October 28, 2009. Brown's co-counsel, Corbin Valles, stood in as Mark Stover. Mr. Valles is larger than Mr. Stover, as far as you know? He's taller. Valles held up his left hand and stuck out his pointer finger to act like he was aiming a gun at Michael.

Brown asked Michael to put on a Kevlar vest like the one he wore on October 28, 2009. Brown's co-counsel, Corbin Valles, stood in as Mark Stover. Mr. Valles is larger than Mr. Stover, as far as you know? He's taller. Valles held up his left hand and stuck out his pointer finger to act like he was aiming a gun at Michael.

Michael lunged at Valles, grabbed his left arm, and tackled him to the ground.

Michael lunged at Valles, grabbed his left arm, and tackled him to the ground.

The aggressive move startled the courtroom into a big laugh. Are you all right?

The aggressive move startled the courtroom into a big laugh. Are you all right?

Michael took off the vest and then walked back to the witness stand.

Michael took off the vest and then walked back to the witness stand.

I asked prosecutor Rich Weirich why a bullet hole in Michael Oakes' vest wasn't convincing to authorities. He explained the location of the bullet was suspicious.

I asked prosecutor Rich Weirich why a bullet hole in Michael Oakes' vest wasn't convincing to authorities. He explained the location of the bullet was suspicious.

Back on the stand, Michael eventually came to the dramatic moment everyone was waiting for. He was finally going to disclose where he put Mark's body.

Back on the stand, Michael eventually came to the dramatic moment everyone was waiting for. He was finally going to disclose where he put Mark's body.

Michael then testified he later drove to that Grange Hall parking lot nearby, where he struggled to transfer Mark's body.

Michael then testified he later drove to that Grange Hall parking lot nearby, where he struggled to transfer Mark's body.

After meeting with his ex-wife, Jennifer Thompson, in Everett, Washington, he drove back to Anacortes to move Mark's now-empty station wagon.

After meeting with his ex-wife, Jennifer Thompson, in Everett, Washington, he drove back to Anacortes to move Mark's now-empty station wagon.

Michael said he then drove the station wagon about two miles to the nearby Swinomish Casino parking lot. Michael then walked back to his own car, where Mark's body was covered up in the back. You leave it there? Yep. Michael told the courtroom he then decided to dispose of the body because he didn't think investigators would believe his story.