While many fans of “Making a Murderer” are torn between whether Steven Avery is guilty of the murder of Teresa Halbach or not, her family believes he is “100 percent guilty” and considers it “unfortunate” that the documentary is so “one-sided.”
“It’s terrible,” Teresa Halbach’s aunt, Kay Giordana, told People. “I can’t believe this came out. It is really unfortunate.”
Avery is now serving a life sentence in the death of the 25-year-old Halbach.
“He is 100 percent guilty,” said Giordana. “No doubt about it.”
Teresa’s cousin-in-law, Jeremy Fournier, said the documentary, which follows the trial and conviction of Avery and his nephew Brendan Dassey, is very biased.
“It is so very one-sided…. It seems like there are some shenanigans by the police in there from what I hear and read about, and I can see where people are getting their opinion, but they are only getting one side of the story,” he said.
“It is not even close to what really happened,” Giordana said of the docu-series. “Everybody has their own side of a story. That is the Avery family’s side of the story. I wouldn’t expect it to be different. They think he is innocent. I am not surprised. I am surprised that someone would put that together in that way and have it [be] one-sided.”
'Making a Murderer': 9 Updates in Steven Avery's Case Since the Premiere (Photos)
Ken Kratz, who prosecuted Steven Avery, sent TheWrap a nine-point list that he said indicated Avery's guilt, including his claim that Avery "targeted" victim Teresa Halbach.
A White House petition calling for Avery's pardon reached 100,000 signatures, the threshold qualifying it for a White House review. However, the possibility of a presidential pardon was quickly shot down, as the president is constitutionally barred from pardoning convicts in state cases.
A 2009 court filing emerged with a bombshell accusation by Avery -- that his brothers Charles and Earl Avery may have killed Halbach.
Avery has retained a new attorney, Kathleen Zellner, who specializes in wrongful convictions. In a statement obtained by TheWrap, Zellner cited "new evidence" in the case and says that she's "confident Mr. Avery’s conviction will be vacated."
Avery filed a new appeal, claiming that a juror tainted his jury by repeatedly claiming that Avery is "fucking guilty." Avery also asserts that he received "inadequate assistance" from his trial and appellate lawyers.
Attorney Len Kachinsky, whose representation of Avery's nephew Brendan Dassey drew heavy criticism from "Making a Murderer" viewers, told TheWrap that he's "not responsible for Dassey going to prison," adding, "You can say I made a mistake, that I should’ve [attended] or I should have rescheduled the interview — that’s valid criticism.”
Dean Strang, one of Avery's defense attorneys, told TheWrap that a "mass" of potential new evidence has emerged since the premiere of "Making a Murderer."
"Making a Murderer" filmmakers Moira Demos and Laura Ricciardi appeared on the "Late Show With Stephen Colbert" to assert that Avery is "not guilty," with Demos opining, "I mean there are things that he could be guilty, but is he guilty beyond a reasonable doubt? Nothing I’ve seen, and I’ve seen a lot of stuff, nothing I’ve seen has convinced me of that.”
The "Making a Murderer" filmmakers also said that one of the jurors in the Avery trial has come forward to say they believe he is innocent.
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From new evidence to fresh appeals, where his case stands now
Ken Kratz, who prosecuted Steven Avery, sent TheWrap a nine-point list that he said indicated Avery's guilt, including his claim that Avery "targeted" victim Teresa Halbach.
