Attorney for Steven Avery files post-conviction motion, seeks new trial
06/08/2017 10:08 am PDT
By Myra Sanchick and Ben Handelman, WITI
MANITOWOC, Wis. -- (WITI) --The attorney for Steven Avery has filed a post-conviction motion in the case, as she works to set Avery free. Attorney Kathleen Zellner filed a 1,272-page document Wednesday, June 7th claiming Steven Avery's conviction was based on planted evidence and false testimony, and requesting a new trial "in the interests of justice." Zellner argues it was someone else who killed Teresa Halbach.
The Manitowoc County clerk received the document from Avery's legal team Wednesday morning.
Avery and his nephew, Brendan Dassey are currently serving life sentences — convicted in the 2005 death of photographer Teresa Halbach in Manitowoc County. The case was chronicled in the 10-part Netflix series “Making a Murderer.”
In 2005, Dassey, then 16, confessed to authorities that he assisted his uncle in raping and killing Halbach, whose charred remains were found on Avery family property in Manitowoc County, Wisconsin.
The Netflix docuseries suggested that investigators took advantage of Dassey's youth and limited intellect to coax him into confessing to a crime he didn't commit. It suggested the possibility that Avery and Dassey were wrongly convicted.
A judge overturned Dassey's conviction in August, ruling that investigators took advantage of the then-16-year-old Dassey's cognitive disabilities and tricked him into confessing. State attorneys are appealing that decision.
Avery and Dassey contend they were framed by law enforcement angry with Avery for filing a lawsuit against Manitowoc County over his wrongful imprisonment for a sexual assault he didn't commit.
The document filed Wednesday says there are several reasons Avery's legal team wants his conviction overturned:
- Ineffective assistance of Avery's defense counsel during trial: Zellner contends that Avery's trial attorneys failed to prove that evidence had been planted because they lacked experts and they did not conduct a thorough investigation.
- New evidence, including additional testing of blood and bullet fragments with technology not available at the time of the crime: Zellner maintains that a spare key for Halbach's sport utility vehicle found in Avery's bedroom was planted by sheriff's deputies. Officials involved in the case have denied any misconduct.
- Brady violations, which alleges suppression of evidence by the prosecution that could be favorable to Avery
- The motion should be allowed even though Avery has tried before
- Ethical violations at the time by Ken Kratz, the prosecutor
FULL STORY: Attorney for Steven Avery files post-conviction motion, seeks new trial - WITI
