One of my personal faves (new raincoat, brilliant interplay between Peter and Jack, Bob Dishy in top form, a fun script) but I can't help believe that if he tried hard enough Santini may have gotten away with it. Just the fact that he was Nazi and Jerome had the evidence still doesn't point to the fact that his prints weren't anywhere, gun wasn't traced to him, no evidence of lock picking (despite Columbo's on stage test - most magicians can pick locks) and no evidence that he did actually use a radio transmitter with the server. Means, motive and opportunity YES but hard conclusive evidence NO! Was it beyond a reasonable doubt that he did it? NO. Thoughts my fellow Columbo-ites.

The only thing though is, why would another murderer get rid of the last thing typed? Although maybe Santini could have said that the real killer found it, and kept it for future opportunities to get money out of Santini.

The evidence against Santini was not conclusive. In many cases the evidence is thin and I imagine many murderers would get away with their crimes if they did not confess, sometimes stupidly though.

In this case I can 'forgive' Santini for confessing. Columbo has discovered that he is an ex Nazi, and soon the world will too. (We can debate if this could be proved since Santini destroyed the accusing letter.) I imagine Santini figured his life as he knew it was over, maybe that a US prison would be better than a foreign prison/

The evidence against Santini was not conclusive. In many cases the evidence is thin and I imagine many murderers would get away with their crimes if they did not confess, sometimes stupidly though.

In this case I can 'forgive' Santini for confessing. Columbo has discovered that he is an ex Nazi, and soon the world will too. (We can debate if this could be proved since Santini destroyed the accusing letter.) I imagine Santini figured his life as he knew it was over, maybe that a US prison would be better than a foreign prison/

I don't think the letter is necessarily proof of Mueller's identity (the state department will be able to confirm that) but it's proof that the victim intended to expose Mueller. So it's evidence of a motive.