Lawyer of Making a Murderer’s Steven Avery claims Teresa Halbach’s ex-boyfriend killed photographer in explosive new claims
THE lawyer representing Steven Avery – the subject of Netflix documentary Making a Murderer – has claimed his alleged victim may have been killed by her abusive boyfriend.
Avery was controversially sentenced to life in prison for the brutal rape and murder of photographer Teresa Halbach, 25, in Wisconsin in 2005.
But in a sensational new development, attorney Kathleen Zellner has submitted a 1,272-page document to Manitowoc County as part of Avery’s much publicised appeal.
In explosive new claims, Zellner says that Halbach’s ex-boyfriend was physically abusive towards her and lied to police during the investigation, reports .
She says that he had visible injuries to his hands, including fingernail scratches, and gave a false name to authorities.
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The lawyer’s document also claims that the victim’s former lover had unrestricted access to Avery’s property and Halbach’s home giving him “complete control of evidence.”
Zellner claims the man assisted police in locating his former partner’s car.
The attorney says Halbach was at a higher risk of violence due to her involvement in nude photography and two affairs she had with a married man and with a friend of her abusive boyfriend.
Avery was arrested and charged with Halbach's murder, kidnapping, sexual assault and mutilation of a corpse on November 11, 2005.
Prosecution argue that Avery invited his 16-year-old nephew Brendan Dassey into his home to sexually assault, physically assault and attempt to kill Halbach.
They claimed the pair then took her into the garage to shoot her in the head before burning her body and attempting to destroy the charred remains.
On June 6, 2007 Steven Avery was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of early release after being found guilty of Halbach's murder.
The trials of Dassey and Avery gained global attention after the release of the Netflix documentary which cast doubt on the legal processes used to convict them.
Supporters of the pair claim Dassey's confession to the police was coerced by cops who took advantage of the teenager's severe learning difficulties.
Critics of Avery's jailing point to his civil law suit against officers in Manitowoc County which was ongoing during the murder investigation.
Some of the cops which Avery was suing were involved in searching his property during the Halbach probe.
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