 Michael Farrar underwent surgery in December 1995 to treat an abscess in his brain caused by the poisoning . Fearful that Farrar would not survive the proceedings , and knowing that his testimony was key to their case , prosecutors videotaped his testimony beforehand . The surgery was successful , and Farrar testified in person and recounted Green 's problems with alcohol and the break @-@ up of their marriage . Under cross @-@ examination by Green 's counsel , he admitted that both he and Green had contributed to the problems in the couple 's marriage and that his relationship with his son had been so adversarial that they had sometimes come to blows . 
