Making a Murderer’s Brendan Dassey will NOT be freed from prison tomorrow as court blocks release
BRENDAN Dassey will NOT be freed from jail tomorrow after the appeals court blocked his release.
The 27-year-old, who has been behind bars for the past ten years, was due to walk free after his murder conviction was overturned.
A federal judge had ordered the Making a Murderer star's release on Friday pending an appeal by prosecutors.
But the Winsconsin appeals court has tonight sensationally blocked the move claiming Dassey poses a "serious public safety issue".
He will remain in prison despite his conviction for the murder of Teresa Halbach being overturned following the hit Netflix documentary series.
Dassey has been serving a life sentence since he was convicted in 2007 of helping his uncle Steven Avery rape, kill and mutilate photographer Teresa in 2005.
But in August a judge overturned his conviction and ruled that police tricked the then 16-year-old into confessing to the brutal murder in Manitowoc County.
Judge William Duffin ruled cops had made false promises to Dassey, who has an IQ of just 70.
When taken into account along with this learning difficulties and age, the judge found they meant his confession was "involuntary".
Doubts about his conviction had been highlighted to an international audience in the popular TV series Making a Murderer.
Dassey's release was delayed pending an appeal by prosecutors, but on Monday the judge said he should be freed this week while that challenge is heard.
On Tuesday Judge Duffin rejected claims by state lawyers that Dassey presents a threat to public safety, and today he set a deadline for his release of 8pm on Friday.
The state Justice Department plans to file an emergency motion with the federal appeals court in Chicago, spokesman Johnny Koremenos said.
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On Monday Dassey's lawyer Kathleen Zellner tweeted: "Great news Brendan Dassey to be released pending appeal.
"With the Avery family right now. Brendan Dassey to be released."
His brother Brad also issued a statement welcoming the news.
According to , he said: "My brother is one step closer to the freedom he DESERVES!
"My heart is pumping beyond belief and I'm extremely ecstatic to hear he'll finally get a taste of freedom until things are completely resolved.
"Despite what people say, I love and care about my brother, Brendan. I always have and always will."
The supposed confession to the murder of Teresa on the orders of uncle Steven was arguably the most shocking moment of Netflix series Making a Murderer.
Dassey was convicted of first degree international homicide, second degree sexual assault and mutilation of a corpse after a trial in 2007.
Photographer Teresa's charred remains were discovered on the grounds of the Avery property on November 10, 2005 - seven days after she was reported missing.
Her car was discovered too, resulting in Avery being charged with her murder, mutilation of a corpse, and illegal possession of a firearm.
His legal team maintain his innocence, claiming the evidence was planted in his salvage yard in Manitowoc County, Wisconsin.
They claimed the police department was angry over a lawsuit Avery had filed relating to his previous wrongful conviction.
Dassey was Avery's alibi, and was interrogated several times over two days - at his school, the police station and at the family's lodge.
Dassey did not have a lawyer, parent or responsible adult with him, and a technique developed to put pressure on suspects was used.
The teenager to being a co-conspirator in the rape and murder, but he later retracted it.
He claimed detectives kept asking him the same thing until he said what they wanted to hear.
His legal team have pointed out that there is no DNA evidence putting him at the scene.
It has also been argued his description of the murder could not match what happened as it would have involved 25-year-old Teresa's blood being spilt, and none was found where Dassey claimed it took place.
Part of the evidence against him came from his cousin Kayla, who told a school counsellor Steven had asked one of her cousins to help move a body.
At Dassey's trial, Kayla said she had lied.
This was all included in the documentary, which sparked questions about coercion.
Also featured was footage of Brendan's first lawyer Mike O'Kelly, who was eventually removed from the case on the request of Dassey's mother Barb.
Some of Mike's techniques were called into question by the documentary, including his request that Dassey sign a form stating he was sorry for his actions.
This can be seen as admission of guilt in court.
Brendan's trial was also shown on the documentary.
He was tried as an adult even though he had learning problems, and was handed his sentence aged 17 years and six months.
Making a Murderer brought Dassey's case into the public eye, with many speaking out to condemn his conviction.
A second series of Making A Murderer is being filmed and will focus on Dassey and Avery's legal teams.
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