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Nation to hear from Norman Clark Friday on Dateline NBC

The country will hear from Norman Clark on Friday for the first time during an episode of NBC's Dateline.

Nearly four months after prosecutors in Knox County decided to drop their case against Norman Clark in connection to the death of his pregnant ex-girlfriend, people will have the opportunity to hear from Clark himself -- in an episode of NBC's Dateline.

Brittany Eldridge was murdered in her bedroom in 2011. She was was 8 1/2 months pregnant when she was strangled and stabbed with scissors. She was found dead in her Cross Creek apartment off Western Avenue.

Clark was arrested in 2014 and indicted for first-degree murder.

Two mistrials have been declared for Clark. A jury in August 2015 said it was hopelessly deadlocked and could not come to a final decision.

MORE: After days of deliberations, another mistrial declared in Norman Clark murder retrial

MORE: State drops charges against Norman Clark in the murder of his pregnant ex-girlfriend

After the first trial, Dateline conducted an interview with Norman Clark. In April 2016, the Knox County prosecutor’s office began the legal process to force Dateline to turn over its interview, but acknowledged that – if given permission in Knox County – the battle would eventually be fought in New York City, since that’s where the network is based.

Knox County Criminal Court Judge Steve Sword in a ruling issued on Friday, July 1 said the state – in its argument to secure the recordings – failed to prove that the interview was valuable and unique enough to bypass Tennessee’s press shield law that protects journalists from revealing sources and information.

“The interview would have been very detrimental to the state,” said Gregory P. Isaacs in 2016, who represented Clark during that first trial and accompanied him to the interview. “Mr. Clark was candid and open about his relationship with Brittany Eldridge and other issues. The press shield – much like the attorney-client privilege – is sacrosanct and is designed to protect all of our rights, and I think it was a correct ruling."

MORE | Judge: Won't force 'Dateline' to give up Norman Clark interview

Clark and Eldridge worked together at Vanderbilt Mortgage and Finance. The were collectors -- calling people to make sure they kept up with their house payments.

NBC Dateline's Andrea Canning spoke to Clark for the story.

CANNING: "What was it about Brittany that you formed this instant connection with?"

CLARK: "She was very good at the job. So I actually used her as a tool at first to teach me. So she helped me out a lot and that's when we started, you know, talking more and more about different things other than work."

CLARK: "So, it was just strictly platonic, you know, strictly friends. But then it just developed more, probably eight months later."

The two allegedly kept their relationship on the down low because Eldridge was married. In February 2011, her husband found out, she moved out, and a divorce was in the works.

A spokesperson for the Knoxville Police Department told 10News the investigation into the murder of Eldridge and her unborn child is still open. Clark won't face a third trial for first-degree murder unless new evidence is found and prosecutors re-file the charges.

Dateline NBC airs on Channel 10 at 9 p.m. ET. The Norman Clark part of the show called All-New "Deadly Circumstances" airs at 10 p.m. ET.

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