Last December, the world basically hibernated to Netflix docuseries 'Making a Murderer' and now everyone's talking about the release of Brendan Dassey...
Quick spoiler alert! If you still haven't watched Making a Murderer, where have you been? But, if you've already binged it, read on.
Whether or not the Netflix documentary swayed you into believing Steven Avery was guilty or innocent in the murder of photojournalist Theresa Halbach, the world was fairly unanimous about one thing involving the case. When his 17-year-old nephew, Brendan Dassey was incarcerated as an accomplice back in 2006, having been coerced by police into a confusing confession, viewers were outraged by his treatment.
Becoming the focus of debates across pubs/restaurants/sofas everywhere after its release last December, Making a Murderer put a spotlight on the American justice system after looking into the incarceration of Steven Avery and his nephew Brendan Dassey. The public jury might have been out on the age-old 'did he? didn't he?' question but the audience agreed that a then 16-year-old Brendan was treated unfairly by police. It's clear to see on tape that police quite literally put the words into Brendan's mouth about how he supposedly raped, stabbed, shot and dismembered Theresa. In August, U.S. Magistrate Judge William Duffin agreed to this and ruled that he was coerced into admitting these actions under a habeas corpus petition.
Convicted of first-degree intentional homicide, second-degree sexual assault and mutilation of a corpse, Brendan was looking to serve a life sentence. Ten years on, Brendan, who is now 26, has been ordered a release by a Federal judge, in hopes that he'll be back in his Wisconsin home for Thanksgiving. He now has until Tuesday to give an address of where he'll be going back to and agree to not violate any federal, state or local laws. Brendan also won't be allowed to own a gun, any other weapons or any substances. He is also banned from contacting his uncle, Steven Avery, who is also serving time for the conviction of killing Teresa.
However, Wisonsin Attorney General Brad Schimel wants to file an emergency motion to block the release of Brendan under the reasoning, 'We believe the magistrate judge's decision that Brendan Dassey's confession was coerced by investigators, and that no reasonable court could have concluded otherwise, is wrong on the facts and wrong on the law.' But, really, can he argue with the world? Only time will tell.
