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Ex-Green Beret seeks new trial after 1979 murder conviction

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    'Final Vision' author goes inside the Jeffrey McDonald case

  • Duration 4:51
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Now about the case of a former army doctor convicted of killing his pregnant wife and their two children.

Author Joe McGinniss has released a new book about it titled final vision it's a follow up to his 1983.

Best seller fatal vision.

Fox is Jenna Lee sat.

Down with the -- called the -- is running criminal case in US history a former green beret.

Accused of brutally murdering his pregnant wife and two young daughters in the middle of the night back in 1970.

And now so many years later.

He's pushing for new trial his name is Jeffrey MacDonald and he's serving not one but three life sentences.

After a court convicted him of the killings but the sixty year old doctor insists after all these years.

That he did say he says drug debt hippies were responsible for the murders and some observers have questions.

Whether he ever got a fair trial.

With us now an author who's filed the case for decades John Maginnis I Jeffrey -- actually sued Maginnis over his bestselling book on the case fatal vision.

He now has a new book here and new e-book called final vision the last word.

And Jeffrey MacDonald now available online said -- every -- gets sued.

That's a small accomplishment -- Well that's not something -- looking for him but if I had to get sibling anybody I'm glad it was Jeffrey -- why why did he say you he sued me because he didn't like my book.

-- to be because he had an arrangement.

Where he would participate.

In.

Getting royalties.

On the book in return for giving -- total access to him and his defense team and newspapers and he promised that he would consume me no matter what the -- said but he was so angry.

When the book came out that he went ahead and did it anyway but that's.

You know he needs something to do he was in prison.

He's been imprisoned since 1979.

When he was convicted of these murders.

It is the longest running criminal case in US history how much can he spend with them I spent the summer of 1979.

I was with him.

And a group of his friends and family and his legal team.

They rented a fraternity house on the campus of north Carolina state university in Raleigh where the trial was held.

And I was in that house.

Paying attention to the trial and -- -- that with McDonald's getting to know him.

Over the course of the Somerset seven weeks and then after his conviction on -- -- in -- few times and I kept.

Do in my own investigation.

Which led me to conclude that the jury was absolutely right to know.

-- so many different things about that and so much speculation over the year remember the woman in the floppy hat that -- of the picture of the -- that.

That apparently was on the scene according to Jack according to Jeff how many did he -- -- anything that I -- then his complete -- I know that though the evidence is overwhelming.

The physical evidence is absolutely incontrovertible.

-- he's making up all these stories -- -- many -- forty years.

Because -- -- whole new generation -- a whole new generation I think you're probably part of it.

That's not familiar with the case I'll take that as a compliment -- please -- that's the way it's intended.

And that maybe didn't read fatal vision and that therefore if they read something new this coming out this -- McDonald.

Maybe he's innocent the -- didn't get a fair trial well I need to show a new generation that the trial was -- that he is guilty that he was justly convicted.

Also there was.

I'm -- there was a hearing.

Last September in Wilmington, North Carolina and I was called to testify in the hearing so I got caught up I was subpoenaed by the Justice Department I -- volunteering.

But I had no choice -- went down there and I testified against him I told the truth at that hearing.

So if it's just so many incredible experiences -- and your right time just change stories often.

What have you learned from all that well I've.

Learned never to underestimate the staying power of -- like a path.

If somebody is absolutely for your remorse or feelings of guilt he can never.

He admits he did it he always have to try to prove himself right he'll go on but I learned also -- the Justice Department.

It is very adept at fighting these ongoing cases that have been one prosecutor there Brian Burke talked who's been involved for forty years responding to every -- reclaim Donald makes.

And I also heard that they -- legal system yes it just because he knows the facts of the case of some -- the new person having to communicate preached.

Our legal system -- so many loopholes the criminals can get through.

They -- they can appeal for if you have a lawyer didn't get a new -- you can keep feeling keep appealing keep billing.

42 years it's been 42 years since he's charged.

This case is still going on any chance to stand getting out oh just no chance at all and all its in final vision I explained why.

Just great hands that thank you very Airbus could -- thank you so much intact.

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