of passion. michelle, she claimed, was a lying schemer who had been busy stealing wet little giselle had left in life, her family. mark class watched from the back of the courtroom. he was disgusted. >> i don't think character is as a nation is a defense. if you are going to defend against the indefensible, i think you have to find a better way of doing it then to vilify the victim. >> reporter: but ford was worried, the defense might just work. >> if i come in as a defense lawyer, and we are going to tell you, my client did it, even though the prosecution has the burden of proof. but we are going to tell you why it happened. that's the most important thing. >> and that's something the da cannot tell you. >> yes. and it has an air of credibility. >> voluntary manslaughter? -- >> yes and then you get out in nine years. >> there was another problem. even as ford methodically laid