Judge Turns Down Steven Avery’s Request For New Trial

'Making A Murderer' Subject's Attorney Says Appeal Is Likely

By
Steven Avery
Jeffrey Phelps/AP Photo

A judge has rejected a man’s bid for a new trial in a Wisconsin killing featured in the Netflix series “Making a Murderer.”

Judge Angela Sutkiewicz on Thursday denied Steven Avery’s request in the 2005 killing of photographer Teresa Halbach.

Halbach’s remains were found in the Avery family’s salvage yard. Avery argued the state turned over bones to the Halbach family without notifying the defense, but WLUK-TV reports the judge ruled that doesn’t mean Avery should get a new trial.

Stay informed on the latest news

Sign up for WPR’s email newsletter.

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

The bones were given to Halbach’s family in 2011, but Avery’s attorneys weren’t notified until 2018. Tests were inconclusive about whether the bones were animal or human.

Avery’s attorney, Kathleen Zellner, tweeted that Avery “is just beginning, not ending, his quest for freedom.”

Avery’s nephew, Brendan Dassey, is also serving a life sentence in the killing.