stover now, do you?hat case. >> and in that sense, the defendant helped you out, correct? >> no. >> reporter: prosecutor kaholokula also asked opdycke about her refusal to answer certain questions in the case. >> now, it's correct, isn't it, that throughout the investigation of this case you've been concerned about your own potential legal liability in this case? >> yes. >> and you refused to speak with my office, correct? >> under a legal counsel, yes. >> reporter: this testimony now, in court, suggested the prosecutor, sounded like a woman with an obvious and selfish motive to support michiel oakes' claim of self-defense. >> isn't it true that if this is a case of self-defense, it gets you off the hook, too? >> what do you mean by that? >> you indicated you were concerned about your own potential liability in this case. if a jury were to find that this was self-defense, you wouldn't have any more liability either, would you? >> i have no liability in this case. >> nothing further. >> reporter: and the

defense attorney stover made the argument. >> life with hope, judge. >> and then melissa took the standhe damage you have caused me is almost unbearable. for alyssa, you crumbled her foundation and everything she knew to be right and true. and as hard as this is to do or believe, i also want to you know i have found it in my heart to forgive you. >> and then james got his sentence. >> the murder charge, you're sentenced to life in prison. >> life without parole, ever. afterwards the little girl in the middle of the family drama turned to melissa with a remarkable request. alyssa asked to meet with james and was ushered in to see him before he was whisked away. >> i told him that i decided to forgive him and that i wanted him to have hope. >> and she wept then, tears of forgiveness, the lingering grief for her father. as for melissa, after the trial she told us she was ready to move on. >> where will you keep ben? >> always be in my heart, will never be forgotten, but we do have to go on. >> if he's looking down and watching you, what would he think about his daughter? >> i think he stil