“Reasonable doubt is for the innocent.”
A documentary series titled, “Making A Murderer” has been making international headlines over the past couple of days. And for all the right, or should we say wrong reasons.
“Making a Murderer” is an American web TV series that first streamed on Netflix on 18th December 2015. The first season follows the strange and harrowing story of Steven Avery, a man who was imprisoned for sexual assault and attempted murder, and who was later exonerated (acquitted) based on a DNA evidence. His release triggered major criminal justice reform legislation.
Netflix series @MakingAMurderer sparks interest in Wisconsin case of Steven Avery pic.twitter.com/IImcC8t0BW
— CBS Mornings (@CBSMornings) December 30, 2015
Having served 18 years for a crime he didn’t commit, Steven filed a lawsuit that threatened to expose corruption in local law enforcement and award him millions of dollars. But in the midst of his very public civil case, he suddenly finds himself the prime suspect in a grisly new crime – the murder of photographer Teresa Halbach.
It’s a crime for which he has also maintained his innocence.
Steven is currently serving a life sentence for Teresa’s murder, and his nephew, Brendan Dassey, was also sentenced to life for being an accessory to the crime.
“Making A Murderer” suggests that Avery may be the victim of a conspiracy, but prosecutors have alleged that the show omits the majority of the physical evidence that links Steven to Teresa’s death.
The true-crime saga was filmed over the course of 10 years, with the creators moving back and forth from New York to Wisconsin during filming. Since it started airing, it generated controversy in Manitowoc County, where the documentary is set. Droves of people (as many as 200,000 viewers) have also signed online petitions seeking a pardon for Steven as well as Brendan. At the same time blasting law enforcement for allegedly framing them for the crime.
“Steven Avery should be exonerated at once by presidential pardon, and the Manitowoc County officials complicit in his two false imprisonments should be held accountable to the highest extent of the U.S. criminal and civil justice systems,” the Change.org petition states.
Unfortunately, Netflix hasn’t been made available in Malaysia as of yet but Netflix has graciously uploaded the first episode of “Making A Murderer” on their YouTube channel. A word of warning though, you may get hooked and be thoroughly infuriated.
Watch:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=34M2zdLc-2U
For more information and for more timely updates, follow the “Making A Murderer” Twitter account.
Sources: “Making A Murderer” Wiki, CNN, NBC News, Netflix YouTube channel, Steven Avery Wiki, Change.org, “Making A Murderer” Twitter, Hollywood Reporter.
