Making a Murderer: Steven Avery appeals conviction in Teresa Halbach case
Avery was previously wrongfully convicted in a rape case
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.A man who was convicted of killing a photographer, and whose case is the subject of the Netflix series “Making a Murderer”, has filed an appeal to be released.
Steven Avery was convicted over the death of Teresa Halbach in 2007 in Wisconsin. His nephew, Brendan Dassey, was also convicted.
For many people, the Netflix series has cast doubt on the legal process used to convict them, but authorities involved in the case have said it is biased.
In the appeal filed by Avery at the Wisconsin Court of Appeals on Monday, the 53-year-old has made a number of claims, including that the search carried during the investigation was improper and that a juror directly or indirectly influenced other jurors.
According to the appeal papers, Avery claimed: “The Judge Angela Sutkiewicz, Inartfully Circomnavigated Around irrefutable, Uncontrovertable Evidence in Averys Favour that both refutes and rebukes the Memorandum Decision [sic]...”
The filing reportedly does not include his attorney’s name.
Avery sued Manitowoc County for millions of dollars after he served 18 years in prison for being wrongfully convicted in a rape case in 1985. DNA evidence later proved he did not commit the crime.
Sheriff Robert Hermann, of Manitowoc County, said he had not seen the appeal but said the investigation had been proper.
A Change.org petition to free Steven Avery has garnered more than 410,000 signatures from people who want him to be pardoned by Scott Walker, the governor of Wisconsin, and President Barack Obama, after watching the Netflix series.
The petition reads: “Steven Avery should be exonerated at once by pardon, and the Manitowoc County officials complicit in his two false imprisonments should be held accountable to the highest extent of the US criminal and civil justice systems.”
But Mr Walker has said he will not be intervening in the case. He told WQOW television: “Just because a documentary on TV says something doesn’t mean that’s actually what the evidence shows.”
Additional reporting by AP
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments