In his 91-page ruling, U.S. Magistrate Judge William Duffin was highly critical of investigators, Dassey’s attorney and the state courts on how they handled the case, concluding that Dassey’s constitutional rights were violated.
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The 26-year-old man, who was one of two defendants examined in the 2015 Netflix documentary series Making a Murderer, had his conviction overturned on Friday by a Federal judge in Wisconsin, ET can confirm. Among facts omitted from the series: evidence that Avery knew Halbach, his DNA was found on her vehicle and some jurors in the case had ties to the local sheriff’s department.
Avery was tried and convicted separately of first-degree intentional homicide in the death of photographer Halbach.
The main evidence against Dassey is his multiple confessions that appear to be coerced, as investigators used leading questions and Dassey didn’t have an adult supervision during the confessions. Dassey was ordered to be released from prison within 90 days, unless the state files to retry him.
Kathleen Zellner says she was visiting Avery on Friday and he was “so happy” for Brendan Dassey.
The documentary tells the real-life story of Avery, who was wrongfully imprisoned for 18 years for sexual assault.
Dassey reportedly issued a four-hour confession to the rape and murder of Teresa Halbach, but his attorneys have insisted that the confession was coerced.
Now, in a turn of events that’s sure to please many fans of the popular Netflix documentary Making a Murderer, a judge has ordered that Dassey be released from prison after six failed appeals and almost a decade behind bars.
The conviction was overturned by a Federal Court which means Dassey will be out within three months.
“The court does not reach this conclusion lightly”, Duffin wrote. Avery is now appealing. He lived on the same property as his uncle, Avery, and admitted to helping rape and murder Halbach, during which he cut her throat.
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Avery’s former defense team is commenting on the judge’s decision.
