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05th Feb 2016

This new forensic technique could help acquit Steven Avery of murder

Could this prove that he is innocent?

Ben Kenyon

A new forensic technique could prove conclusively whether or not Teresa Halbach was killed at Steven Avery’s home.

The test, using high-tech chemical Luminol, was not available during Avery’s murder trial in 2007 which was the subject of powerful Netflix series Making A Murderer.

But now Luminol testing has reportedly been carried out at his property in an attempt to prove his innocence, Access Hollywood report.

Avery’s house and garage are believed to have been sprayed with Luminol, which can find traces of blood even decades after a crime.

His lawyer Kathleen Zellner reportedly ordered the procedure in a bid to show there is no blood inside the property and therefore that Halbach could not have died there.

It’s not yet clear whether or not the test has uncovered  blood, but if any blood shows up then DNA testing techniques would need to be employed to detect who it belonged to.

https://twitter.com/ZellnerLaw/status/694347701660549120

Brendan Dassey, Avery’s nephew and co-defendant, told police a prolonged and bloody murder had taken place at the house.

Dassey claimed Halbach was tied to the bed and stabbed and beaten, before being dragged to the garage where she was shot in the head.

While visible blood from both Avery and Halbach were discovered in her Toyota RAV4, no visible blood was ever found in the property.

Despite there being many soft furnishings in the house and piles of junk in the garage which would be incredibly difficult to clean, prosecutor Ken Kratz was able to argue Avery had managed to get rid of all the blood.

But hopes are this new forensic technique could bring a major breakthrough for Avery.