A critical triumph across the board, Sundance Channel presents The Staircase, an edge-of-your-seat, real-life thriller from Academy Award-winning documentary filmmaker Jean-Xavier de Lestrade. With all the trappings of a classic murder mystery, The Staircase chronicles the sensational story of North Carolina author Michael Peterson, who stood trial in 2003 for the murder of his wife, Kathleen Peterson. Granted unusual access to Peterson's lawyers and his immediate family, de Lestrade presents a gripping, inside look at the high-profile murder trial in this acclaimed 8-part series that will leave you gasping for breath.