MADISON, Wis. (AP) — A federal court in Wisconsin has overturned the conviction of a man found guilty of helping his uncle kill Teresa Halbach in a case profiled in the Netflix documentary “Making of a Murderer.”
The U.S. District Court in Milwaukee on Friday overturned Brendan Dassey’s conviction and ordered him freed within 90 days unless the case is appealed.
Dassey confessed to helping his uncle Steven Avery carry out the rape and murder of Halbach, but attorneys argued that the confession was coerced.
Dassey was 16 when Halbach was killed in 2005 after she went to the Avery family auto salvage yard to photograph some vehicles. Avery was tried and convicted separately in the homicide.
Dassey’s case burst into the public’s consciousness with the popularity of the “Making of a Murderer” documentary.
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What is the sentence for a sixteen year-old who murders in that state, either singly or in concert with another adult? He has been in custody in prison on the previous conviction for how many years?
I am sure the state will appeal and retry the case. I doubt this man will go free.
I am watching the documentary “Making a Murderer” now. This young guy is definitely a co-defendant in that murder, and admitted it. His mental handicap may have some sway in sentencing, but the evidence is there, even without the taped confession.
I’m very interested to see how you felt about Steven Avery’s conviction, guilt or innocence. I watched it and I feel like I’m the only person in the world who came away thinking the man was guilty as sin. I did, however, feel sorry for his nephew. He was railroaded whether or not he did it.
He is as guilty as homemade sin. There were some highly questionable actions taken by LE, but that doesn’t negate the truth of his guilt.
So, I’m not completely out of my damn mind? Phew! Honestly, that’s exactly how I felt too. The cops most likely did act outside the law, the may have even framed him, but that was because they knew he did it. That doesn’t at all excuse their behavior, and they should have faced consequences just as Avery deserved the consequences of his actions.
I watched the movie and was positive that the nephew was not involved in any way. He just wanted to be out of the interview and go back to do the homework or something. It was clear to anyone that it was just nothing but a frame-up.
Regarding his uncle, you can’t say whether he did it or not based on what was depicted in the movie. They did however plant evidence (keys) when the two investigators were given freedom to do. The movie did not include the testimony of his then girlfriend, who has said that Avery mentioned to her “He wanted to get even with those bitches” or something along those lines. I would not convict Avery based on what was presented in the movie even if he did it. There needs to be something more.