here's the conclusion of before the storm. >> reporter: after a year of court hearing and motions, steven mcdowell on trial for the murder of his ex-wife crystal. in june 2019, d.a. cheryl leick made sure she was well-armed with evidence depicting the extent to which mcdowell tried to cover up the crime. she showed the jury mcdowell's confession, the video of him dumping crystal's mercedes, and buying that bicycle at walmart and later checking on the car to see if had been stolen. but the video that really got the court's attention? pre-recorded testimony of crystal and steven's two children. >> reporter: why'd you bring the kids in? >> well, i didn't want to. >> reporter: tender age. >> i spoke to their guardian, and i said, "look, if -- if you don't think that this is gonna be somethin' that they can handle, i will absolutely not put them on the stand. it's just not worth it to me." but, they wanted to talk about it. >> reporter: "it" being their mother's murder. the daughter, now 7, said she saw it happen. no cameras were allowed in court so we turn to the trial transcripts on the daughter's te