It’s to Netflix what Serial was to podcasts: a true-crime saga you can’t tear yourself away from. Riveting. Disturbing. Watching it, you want to talk about it.
So CC community, I’d love to start a discussion. In particular, I’d love to hear from attorneys. My binge-watching daughter is home for the holidays and got me hooked. Anyone see it?
I haven’t watched the series but I’m very familiar with the events described. I live in Wisconsin and I’m a lawyer and an avid consumer of news. Watching the events unfold, so to speak, was quite depressing.
It was very frustrating that, even when the two men got wonderful legal representation, people who did and said all the right things, they STILL were not heard by the court system. I understand that the appeals process cannot look in depth into every case that gets brought to them, but you have to wonder if Branden’s case couldn’t get a hearing, what cases DO get heard?
My son suggested we watch this together, but I’m worried it will be upsetting. I am a crime show/documentary/serial killer junkie, but since this is on Netflix, I’m worried it will be more graphic than I’m used to.
@Montegut it’s not graphic per se, but very disturbing because these people are real and quiet, simple Americana. I felt so helpless and confused as the story unfolded, not sure how I feel about it now other than sad, but it is definitely gripping and well done. I binge watched the whole series.
I still haven’t watched the program but I’ve been reading some of the local (i.e., Wisconsin) articles about it and it came up at one of our holiday gatherings. I’m particularly interested in seeing the extent (if any) to which the program deals with the feelings of people about the role of the Innocence Project, which now is under the direction of one of my law school clinical supervisors.
I simply don’t understand how Brendan doesn’t merit a new trial. A 16yo kid with a 70ish IQ being talked to without a lawyer present and then his lawyer/investigator clearly working in the best interest of the prosecution and not their client??? I was sure that by the end, an appeal would work for Brendan.
I am more conflicted about Steven. I wouldn’t be surprised to learn he really did it, but I do think that the police planted evidence to ensure a conviction.
Wow. Just finished watching the first episode. As a criminal defense attorney and former prosecutor I’m saddened by Steven’s story. I unfortunately see situations similar to this all the time. Obviously there are many outstanding police/DA’s who really want to protect the community and convict guilty people. I had to get that statement in there first. However, it happens routinely where someone makes an accusation; the police respond; no investigation is done and a person is arrested. The DA gets the case and takes the opinion of the police as gospel, without considering the possibility of actual innocence or false ID. A plea bargain is offered-just good enough to temp the defendant to consider/take the offer-knowing that if convicted after trial he faces 5, 10, 15 or more years in State Prison.
I felt the pressure as an ADA to believe the police. You work so close with them. You want to believe that people take this enormous responsibility serious. Knowing that you are charged with potentially taking someone’s Liberty away. But DA’s have a duty to resist this temptation and independently evaluate the case. To look at the evidence. And not just highlight what goes to show guilt. There are plenty of DA’s I deal with everyday that do the right thing. Will listen to my arguments. My witnesses. My evidence. It’s despicable that Steven Avery had the horrible bad luck to have a corrupt DA and law enforcement.
This program should be mandatory viewing for all DA’s and Police to let them know the extraordinary power they have. The destruction their decisions can toll on so many innocent lives.
I will watch the remainder of this documentary. But saddened to know this occurred.
I watched this several days ago. It still haunts me. I am afraid that the poor and undereducated may face this type of treatment at the hands of the law more than many people want to admit.
We got an insider’s glimpse of how unjust the system can be only because a documentary film crew happened to be following Steven Avery. There are, of course, many, many accused who are anonymous and whose plights will never be exposed because nobody cares about what happens to them.
I binged watched and couldn’t believe that Brendan couldn’t get a new trial. I came away from series feeling that there was clearly injustice - police/DA corruption in Steven’s case as well; yet I wouldn’t be surprised to learn in future if new evidence (EDTA?? new science) that broke in either direction. I’ve tried to reflect on it for last day or so, and my most basic conclusion is that how systematically stacked the deck can be in the justice system against anyone who doesn’t start out with significant income/education.
@gotgiants - did you watch the rest of the series? I’m interested in your take.
H and I finished it this afternoon. I’m just…sad, disappointed, disillusioned. Do you all think there is more (I mean WAY more) to the story than what was presented?
All of my Ds have watched it and were talking about it over the holidays. I haven’t and am not sure if I will. After watching the documentaries about the West Memphis Three, I’m not sure I could watch a similar story again about how the justice system (and I use that term loosely) doesn’t work for the poor and uneducated, and how corrupt some members of the police, the prosecution and the judiciary can be.
I urge those of you who have found Making a Murderer interesting to watch the Paradise: Lost documentaries about the West Memphis Three. It is a far more disturbing story, and is about the murder of three 7 year old boys. So, keep that in mind, if you are not up to watching that.
I did finish watching the series. I refuse to believe that it’s just a coincidence that right when his lawsuit Is getting strong this happens. And why is it so unbelievable to think the police would frame him-they did it before? These type of defenses-framed by the police are extremely difficult and rarely work. Most of the public just cannot wrap their heads around the fact that it’s even possible. And this case had much more evidence than most. The way the crime is described there should have been blood everywhere in that bedroom. There was none. And why wasn’t the key found in the first 6 searches? And then magically found on #7 by a Sherriff who had a clear conflict of interest. So much doubt. But in the end juries want to find someone responsible and Steven was sitting in front of them. He looks the part. Plus the DA/Police press conferences were so improper. The jury pool was tainted from day1. And Steven had 2 outstanding attorneys. Experienced and knowledgable. Fearless against the entire community. And it wasn’t enough. Sad.
One of the most disturbing things I’ve ever watched. Brendan’s first lawyer, in particular, left me (a former attorney) absolutely horrified and nauseated. My hope is with the Federal court because there was clearly no incentive for the Wisconsin state courts to hear his appeal. The trial court judges made several legal decisions which should be ripe for a good appeal. Brendan has excellent appellate lawyers right now. Steven had two fantastic trial lawyers but that was always going to be a hard slog with a local jury and judge. It’s been difficult for me to stop thinking about it.
Thanks @gotgiants and @PollyC . Appreciate the opinions. H and I are sickened as well. Hard to stop thinking about it. But the last thing I want is for my emotions to be manipulated by the filmmakers. I keep Googling around for evidence that exists, that wasn’t presented in the series. Not finding mention of much though. Some, but not much.