Brendan Dassey’s bid for freedom has been hit by yet another setback.
Dassey, one of the subjects of Netflix’s explosively popular documentary series Making a Murderer, has learned that the US Supreme Court will not hear an appeal of the decision that upheld his conviction for the murder of Teresa Halbach in 2005.
There was much outcry for Dassey’s case to be reviewed after the release of Making a Murder. The series documented Dassey’s questioning by two police detectives without an adult or a lawyer present. At the time, Dassey was 16 with a debilitatingly low IQ.
Dassey was convicted of the murder of Teresa Halbach along with his uncle Steven Avery, who is now serving a life sentence for the crime.
A federal magistrate overturned the conviction last year, but the Wisconsin Department of Justice appealed that decision up to a U.S. Appeals Court, which in a 4-3 ruling found the confession to be voluntary.
Today, Steven Avery’s former lawyer Jerry Buting announced the Supreme Court’s decision on Twitter. He argued that the Supreme Court had “passed on a huge opportunity to improve justice, especially for juveniles.”
SCOTUS DENIED review of Brendan’s case. Passed on a huge opportunity to improve justice, especially for juveniles. 😔
— Jerome Buting (@JButing) June 25, 2018
Buting also wrote a message urging Dassey and his supporters to not to give up hope.
Disappointing as today’s decision is for American justice, Dassey has more options; don’t give up hope. Newly discovered evidence & Brady violations in SA case will apply to him. Truth will prevail. Best of all, he still has @SDrizin & @LauraNirider.#MakingAMurderer @ZellnerLaw
— Jerome Buting (@JButing) June 25, 2018
