Wisconsin’s Department of Justice is asking a federal appellate court to review a ruling overturning the conviction of a Wisconsin inmate featured in the “Making a Murderer” documentary.
Brendan Dassey was sentenced to life in 2007 after he told detectives he helped his uncle, Steven Avery, rape and kill Teresa Halbach.
A federal judge overturned Dassey’s conviction in 2016, ruling investigators took advantage of his young age and cognitive disabilities to coerce the confession. A three-judge panel from the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals agreed in June.
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State attorneys filed a motion with the 7th Circuit on Wednesday asking all 12 of the court’s judges to review the case. The court rarely grants such reviews but in a 15-page petition, the state DOJ suggests that if Dassey’s case is overturned, it could set a precedent for interrogation techniques used on all juvenile suspects.
Editor’s note: This story has been updated to include original reporting from WPR.
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