On Wednesday, a Wisconsin appeals court denied Steven Avery’s request to present new evidence that possibly challenges his 2005 murder conviction.
WBAY reported that Avery sought a new hearing to prove he was framed for Teresa Halbach’s slaying. Avery and his nephew Brendan Dassey, are serving life sentences in a case that has garnered widespread attention since it was chronicled in Netflix’s “Making a Murderer.”
In its ruling, the Wisconsin Court of Appeals disputed claims that Avery could prove his other nephew, Bobby Dassey, killed Hallbach. WBAY reported that this is Avery’s third appeal to this court.
READ: Steven Avery Loses Bid for New Trial
“Avery failed to offer anything other than speculation that [the third-party] possessed Halbach’s RAV4, its key or her electronics… Avery only offered conclusory statements and speculation [they] would be able to successfully collect and plant Avery’s blood in a way that went undetected by crime scene professionals… Avery also did not explain how Bobby had access to any of the other forensic evidence in this case,” the court wrote.
WHBY reported that Bobby Dassey was living at the family’s compound when the murder occurred. Avery argued that someone witnessed him push Hallbach’s vehicle to a concealed spot at the family’s salvage yard. He claims prosecutors did not promptly disclose this to them.
Before Hallbach’s murder, Avery spent 20 years in prison for raping a woman at Lake Michigan in 1985. However, DNA testing conducted in 2002 uncovered forensic evidence that linked the crime to a felon who resembled Avery and was serving a 60-year sentence for another sexual assault. Avery was exonerated the following year.
Avery’s lawyer, Kathleen Zellner, suggested they would appeal Wednesday’s ruling.
She wrote on X, “On to the Wisconsin Supreme Court.”
[Feature Photo: Wisconsin Department of Corrections]
