Brendan Dassey from Making a Murderer, is seeking clemency after over 12 years in prison.
What We Know:
- The lawyers for Brendan Dassey are launching a campaign to persuade the governor of Wisconsin, Tony Evers, to grant him clemency. Dassey is either asking for a pardon, which would result in his release from prison or a commutation of his remaining sentence.
- This is one of his last legal options. Laura Nirider one of his lawyers stated, “It’s really a coalition of voices that are calling on the governor just to take a close review of this case — watch the videotapes, read the records.”
- When he was 16, he confessed to aiding his uncle Steven Avery in killing photographer Teresa Halbach. His attorneys argue that he gave a coerced confession given Dassey’s learning disabilities. Also that it was unjust that no lawyers or other adults were present at the time of his interrogation.
- Although lower courts ruled that Dassey’s confession was involuntary, in December 2018, the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals decided that Dassey’s confession was voluntary. The vote was close with a 4-3 outcome. The Supreme Court of the United States declined to hear his case back in June.
Dassey is currently serving a life sentence and is not eligible for parole for another 30 years.
