Robert Robertson

Have you done interviews on this topic before?

No, this is the very first.

Evans has practiced law in Palestine for most of his life.

Robert was no stranger to him.

He defended him before.

So when you looked down at your piece of paper and saw Robert Robertson was your defendant, what did you think?

Still, after Evans read the medical reports, even he didn't buy his client's story about Nikki falling from the bed.

I don't think it's right, no.

I mean, because there are so many natural causes here that could have caused her death.

When the prosecutor offered a plea deal, Evans urged Robert to accept it.

How many offers, plea offers, came Robert's way?

And they were all for life without parole?

And when you got the pleas, that would have been a victory for you?

Oh, hell yes.

But Robert refused, again and again, insisting he was innocent.

When its trial began in February 2003, the state came out swinging.

The prosecution's first witness, the ER nurse with the pink scrubs, Kelly Gerganis.

She remembered telling the jury that she'd been so disgusted by Robert's behavior, she wanted to spit on him.

Detective Brian Wharton testified, too.

Did you make eye contact with Robert?