Summary

MacDonald’s lawyer, Segal, added a proviso to the contract between McGinniss and his client that released McGinnis from all threat of prosecution providing the “essential integrity” of MacDonald’s life story was maintained. The papers were signed and MacDonald and McGinniss seemed to become fast friends. Michael Malley, MacDonald’s friend from college and a lawyer for his defense, was alone in his dislike of McGinniss’s presence. While he didn’t dislike McGinniss personally, he felt his presence violated the attorney-client privilege. Segal solved this problem by having McGinnis sign an employment agreement to become a member of the defense team. However, on August 29, MacDonald was convicted of the slaughter of his wife and three children. McGinniss and MacDonald began a four-year correspondence. Two months before the publication of Fatal Vision, McGinniss appeared on a talk show and said he felt...