Brendan Dassey, one of the subjects of “Making a Murderer,” is seeking clemency after almost 13 years in prison for the murder of photographer Teresa Halbach.
According to the New York Times, his legal team on Wednesday launched a campaign to persuade the governor of Wisconsin Tony Evers to grant him clemency. According to the petition, 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 the last remaining legal options available to Dassey.
While one of Dassey’s attorneys, Laura Nirider, hasn’t responded to TheWrap’s request for comment, she told NYT that “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.”
Dassey was 16 when he confessed to aiding his uncle Steven Avery in killing Halbach. However, his attorneys have since seen it as a coerced confession given Dassey’s learning disabilities. At the time of the interrogation, no lawyers or other adults were present.
In an episode of the podcast “Wrongful Conviction” released on Wednesday, Dassey, in his first interview since going to prison, said, “I just wanted it all over with, so I said whatever they wanted to hear, you know?”
In December 2018, the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals decided that Dassey’s confession was voluntary. It was a tight vote, however, with a 4-3 outcome. Lower courts ruled that Dassey’s confession was involuntary. In June of last year, the Supreme Court of the United States declined to hear his case, but no reason was given. Dassey is currently serving a life sentence. According to CBS News, Dassey is not eligible for parole for another 30 years, and doesn’t fit the criteria for a pardon.
Steven Avery, Dassey’s uncle, was also found guilty in Halbach’s 2007 murder. Avery, who says the police framed him for the crime, is still appealing his case.
Avery is currently serving a life sentence without the possibility of parole.