Brendan Dassey, whose conviction was profiled in the Netflix series "Making A Murderer", has been ordered for release from prison. US Magistrate Judge William Duffin already overturned the conviction in August against Dassey, ordering his release within 90 days unless an appeal is made by the prosecution.
The appeal was made by the attorney general of Wisconsin, but the defense asked for him to be released, claiming that he does not pose a threat to society should he be released from prison. On Monday, the judge approved the immediate release of Dassey, NPR reported.
Brendan Dassey's date of release was not given, and he has until Tuesday to indicate which home he will stay in, given that federal officers will need to inspect it first. But Wisconsin Attorney General Brad Schimel states that they will file a motion in the Court of Appeals to ensure that Dassey will not get out of prison.
Dassey is not allowed to contact any family member of Teresa Halbach, whose murder he is convicted of, nor his uncle Steve Avery, who is still in prison for the crime.
Brenday Dassey, along with his uncle Steve Avery, were convicted of the murder of photographer Teresa Halbach in October 2005. He was charged with first-degree intentional homicide, second-degree sexual assault and mutilating a corpse. But in August of this year, Judge Duffin proclaimed that Dassey was tricked by the investigators of the crime. He was coerced into confessing that he helped his uncle kill Halbachand and was assured that he had nothing to worry about.
Brenda Dassey was then a 16-year old who was enrolled in special education classes. He was described in court documents as someone who had a hard time understanding language and even speaking.
The case of the murder of Teresa Halbach and the subsequent conviction of Steve Avery and his nephew Brendan Dassey received nationwide and international attention when the Netflix aired the "Making a Murderer" docu-series.
The docu-series garnered negative reaction from citizens who feel that the two were wrongfully convicted. The filmmakers feel that the conduct of the law officials involved in the investigation was not right. Steven Avery was already imprisoned for the assault of a Penny Beerntsen, even though he had an alibi during the time of the crime. He then spent 18 years, after he was exonerated, filed a lawsuit against Maniwotoc County.
The docu-series "Making A Murderer" explored the conflict of interest in the handling of the Halbach Murder. Avery maintained his position that it was a frame up and he was innocent.
Telegraph reports that Brenday Dassey's lawyer, Steve Drizin, stated that he hopes that Dassey, now 27, will be able to spend Thanksgiving out of prison.
