June 12, 2003 DURHAM, N.C. — A defense lawyer for novelist Michael Peterson questions whether two Durham detectives lied under oath about leaking information to reporters.

Detectives Art Holland and Sergeant Brett Hallan testified Monday they had no contact with reporters about the 1985 death in Germany of Elizabeth Ratliff.

Ratliff was a friend of Peterson's found at the base of a staircase with head injuries. Peterson says his wife, Kathleen, also died after falling down stairs and injuring her head.

Defense lawyer David Rudolf subpoenaed a Durham newspaper columnist and television reporters from WTVD and WRAL to try to show that the detectives had lied about talking to the media.

Jury selection is also continuing in the case.