Good news for Steven Avery, the subject of the hit Netflix series Making a Murderer. A judge has ordered new testing of evidence for his ongoing case.
Avery’s attorney, Kathleen Zellner, has announced that an independent scientific testing agreement has been signed and she expressed confidence in her continued plans to have the 2007 murder conviction overturned.
The agreement comes nearly three months after Zellner pledged she had a plan to overturn his 2007 conviction.
Avery was sentenced to life in prison after being convicted of first-degree intentional homicide in the 2005 death of photographer Teresa Halbach in Manitowoc County, Wisconsin.
Among the evidence to be tested, Avery’s blood sample and the much-discussed spare key from Halbach’s car that was reportedly discovered inside Avery’s bedroom. Zellner is determined, once and for all, to find out whether a DNA swab taken from the hood latch of the vehicle was “fabricated” from known DNA samples already in possession of local authorities at the time.
Earlier this month, a judge granted the release of Brendan Dassey, Avery’s nephew, who was convicted in 2007 of helping his uncle allegedly rape, kill and mutilate Halbach. He was a 16-year-old high school sophomore when he received a life sentence in prison. Dassey remains in prison after a federal appeals court blocked his release.
