Wisconsin court rejects request to review conviction in ‘Making a Murderer’ case

The Wisconsin Supreme Court rejected a request to review a man’s conviction for killing a photographer in the case at the center of Netflix’s “Making a Murderer” series. 

The court denied Steven Avery’s request regarding failure to disclose evidence, the destruction of bone fragments and ineffective assistance of counsel, according to The Associated Press. The court did not make any comment on the decision. 

“We are not surprised since the Wisconsin Supreme Court only grants 1-2 percent of petitions for review,” Kathleen Zellner, Avery’s attorney, said, per the AP, adding that they would be “filing a new petition with the circuit court at the appropriate time.”

“Mr. Avery has many options including proceeding to the U.S Supreme Court, and then federal district,” she added. 

Avery has previously made other unsuccessful attempts to overturn his conviction.

The 59-year old is serving a lifelong prison sentence for killing 25-year-old Theresa Halbach on Halloween in 2005. Brendan Dassey, Avery’s nephew, was also convicted in the case, though both claim they are innocent, according to the wire service.

In a confession that a judge later ruled was coerced by investigators, Dassey, then 16, said that he helped his uncle rape and kill Halbach. However, that ruling was overturned by a federal appeals court. The U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear the case, the AP reported.

In 2015, Avery’s case garnered attention via the Netflix series, “Making a Murderer,” which questioned the convictions. Though some were critical of the filmmakers for allegedly presenting biased information, the filmmakers themselves have defended the series and advocated for the release of Avery and Dassey, the AP noted.

The Hill has reached out to Zellner for comment.