john lewin: how tightly were are you holding her? back the next evening and put deede's body in the car. using a spare key he had for the mercedes, he started driving and headed for mexico. but he wondered how he'd get back across the border. so he left the car on a street in san diego and hired an off-duty taxi to take him back to la. erwin admitted to the murder. but he talked about it in a way that made it seem almost accidental. yes, he was willing to accept responsibility for the rage and for the anger. he was not willing to accept responsibility that the murder happened intentionally. second degree murder-- josh mankiewicz: but despite that, lewin felt a second degree murder conviction was the best he could secure. and after erwin left the stand and took the plea, deede's friends and family had the chance to speak to him. they offered surprising words of gratitude and forgiveness to a now-confessed killer. [inaudible] thank you. and we also find it in our hearts to forgive you. you did the right thing with the circumstances and

. >> in the weeks leading up to trial, prosecutor, john lewin wondered if the star witness would show was terribly conflicted over the guilt he felt at not speaking up sooner, and the love he still felt for his stepfather, andre. >> he didn't like the idea of testifying against andre? >> no he did not. >> but a day before opening statements, much to lewin's relief, marcus did show up for trial, but he was, to say the least, a reluctant witness. >> in the beginning, when i first came to speak with mr. lewin, i defended andre on my family's side, and i didn't want to believe that he did it, then i found out that i am probably going to have to accept the truth, a truth that i really don't want to have to accept, even today to be honest. >> marcus told the jury his harrowing story of the fight he witnessed between his mom and his stepdad. six weeks before her murder. >> they were frantic and my mom was, she was distraught, investors i guess is the best word. she was screaming, call the police, call the police. >> compelling, damning, but it turned out the defense had a star witness too. d