Fans of the Netflix true crime documentary Making A Murderer have been waiting with baited breath for the end of August, when Steven Avery’s new lawyer Kathleen Zellner files her appeal of his conviction. Since joining his legal team back in January, Zellner has been making bold statements about planted evidence and cover ups. Now we’re days away from finally learning what cards she’s actually holding.
The New York Times reached out to Zellner, who told them her appeal would include a motion to access DNA evidence collected during the case. She cited two reasons for the request: to see if the DNA matches up with a new suspect she believes may have killed Teresa Halbach, and to prove that the evidence was planted in the original trial.
“There is evidence that already exists in the case that points to a different location and a different suspect,” Zellner told the Times. “We’ve got a combination of forensic evidence and a tip from somebody that we’ve interviewed multiple times that we think is credible.”
Steven Avery’s lawyer promised more details would emerge on that front once forensic testing of DNA from the case was complete. As for the planted evidence, it sounds like Zellner plans to contest four specific items: Steven’s blood in Teresa Halbach’s RAV4 jeep, his sweat under the hood latch, the bullet with Teresa’s DNA found in his garage, and her RAV4 key recovered in his trailer home.
“It may not all be successful,” Zellner said. “But I believe if even one bit of evidence is planted, the conviction is going to be vacated. I’ve never seen a more graphic, compelling illustration of a crime scene that was fabricated.”
That may sound confident, but Kathleen Zellner has a right to be confident. Her current record for getting wrongful convictions overturned stands at 17-0, and earlier this month she won a new trial for another one of her clients who was accused of throwing a toddler to the floor and killing him.
Steven Avery sounds pretty confident as well. Discussing the upcoming Zellner appeal, he said “I’m going to be free. I thought sooner or later (this day) would (come), The truth is coming out.”
Kathleen Zellner’s appeal is set to be filed on August 29. We’ll have all the details on what’s in her brief as soon as it comes out.
