Jeffrey MacDonald Seeks New Trial in 'Fatal Vision' Murders

March 23, 2010— -- The infamous "Fatal Vision" case could be thrust back into the national spotlight as the legal team of convicted murderer Dr. Jeffrey MacDonald got about 45 minutes in court today to prove he deserves a new trial.

However the family of one of MacDonald's alleged victims is holding out hope he will remain in prison for the rest of his life.

It's been 40 years since MacDonald's wife, Colette, and their two young daughters were brutally murdered in their home in Fort Bragg, N.C., and 31 years since MacDonald, a former army surgeon, was convicted in their murders. He claimed that a group of people, high on drugs, attacked him and murdered his wife and children.

The murders came just six months after the Charles Manson killings and immediately captivated an already shocked nation, spawning the book and TV miniseries "Fatal Vision."

MacDonald's lawyer, Joseph Zeszotarski, argued before the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals in Richmond, Va., that MacDonald deserves a new trial, based primarily on statements made by people tied to the case that had not previously been heard and new DNA findings that MacDonald's team wants submitted to the court.

"MacDonald asserts that evidence submitted shows that he is actually innocent, and shows that his trial was infected with constitutional error," his appeal says.

"I think that the judges listened very carefully to our argument," Hart Miles, another of MacDonald's lawyers told ABC News. "I think they will give it very serious consideration, and hopefully they'll agree all evidence needs to be reviewed, including the DNA evidence."

"Katherine and Dr. McDonald are obviously anxious, but also hopeful. They are looking forward to seeing what the Fourth Circuit decides and moving forward from there."

Prosecutors declined to comment on the appeal.