'Making a Murderer' Lawyer Claims Teresa Halbach Alive After Steven Avery Meeting, Appeals New Trial
The lawyer of Steven Avery, the subject of the "Making a Murderer" documentary on Netflix, unleashed new evidence that could exonerate her client. Kathleen Zellner of the defense filed another motion for a new trial. She stated that the victim, Teresa Halbach, was still alive after her meeting with Avery.
Zellner filed a 54-page motion Monday, Oct. 23, asking the courts of Manitowoc County to reconsider a new trial in light of more evidence. Witnesses submitted affidavits stating that they saw Halbach leave Avery's property on the day she was supposed to have disappeared in October 2005.
One new witness claimed to see Halbach's vehicle on the road on Nov. 4 and 5, 2005. The witness also claimed telling police about this during the investigation over 10 years ago but the statement was not included in the police report.
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"The witness's observation of the RAV4 would have destroyed the State's theory that the victim's vehicle never left the Avery property after her arrival on October 31," Zellner stated in the latest motion.
The defense's move comes following the rejection of a new trial request in a 1,200-page motion filed in June. Zellner did not convince the judges when she cited evidence that it was Halbach's ex-boyfriend, and not Avery, who murdered her.
Meanwhile, Avery's nephew, Brendan Dassey, is still awaiting the decision on his case. Courts overturned his conviction in 2016, which means he should be out of prison. The state, however, filed appeals that have kept him locked up.
Avery and Dassey defended that they were framed for the murder of Halbach. Their story gained worldwide attention because of Netflix's "Making a Murderer" docu-series, which debuted in 2015 and reaped various awards.
The second season is currently being filmed and will touch on the appeals of the convicted. Netflix, however, has not yet announced the exact air date of the follow-up season to "Making a Murderer." Season 1 is still streaming on the platform.
