Steven Avery's lawyer, Kathleen Zellner, about an "explosive" evidence



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Since its creation nearly three years ago, the Netflix docuseries Make a murderer raised more doubts about the death of Teresa Halbach and the responsibility of it than answers.

Kathleen Zellner, a lawyer known for exonerating people who have been wrongly convicted, has been Halbach's murderer, Steven Avery, since January 2016.

Make a murderer – who is coming back for Part 2 on Friday (an exclusive overview is on top) – cast a harsh light on the case against Avery and his teenage nephew Brendan Dassey, both of whom were convicted of Halbach's murder, a 25-year-old photographer, in October 2005.

Avery and Dassey have maintained their innocence for years and Make a murdererThe new series of episodes will follow their push for freedom – prosecutors are also fighting to keep them behind bars, confident that two juries confirm it: the murderers are behind bars.

The family of Halbach, who refused to participate in the series, described it as exploitative and biased. Aunt Kay Giordana told PEOPLE in 2016 that she had "no doubt" about Avery's guilt.

Zellner is equally convinced of his innocence. As Avery's appellate lawyer, she set herself the task of reviewing the case and setting it apart.

Kathleen Zellner

Kathleen Zellner

Monica Schipper / Getty

Make a murdererThe filmmakers, Moira Demos and Laura Ricciardi, call it the "main engine of history" and closely follow its work: they invite experts to re-examine medico-legal evidence (such as blood and blood pressure). DNA discovered in Halbach's vehicle and his wife). burned remains discovered on the Avery property) and looking for clues about other potential suspects.

In an exclusive interview with PEOPLE, Zellner says her work has revealed "big explosive evidence", which she has already cited in public reports. Among other things, she cited experts who cast doubt on the prosecution's interpretation of forensic evidence, including the finding that Halbach had been burned where his body had been found. Zellner also claims that prosecutors had previously concealed evidence from the defense.

• To learn more about Making a Murderer (Part 2) and what has changed in the business over the past three years, subscribe now to PEOPLE or take this week's issue on newsstands on Friday.

The court has not yet ruled in his favor, but Zellner is not discouraged.

"We believe that the case will eventually collapse in the Wisconsin Superior Courts," she said.

When the initial murder investigation was formally a fact-finding mission, the post-conviction phase may seem largely related to process and interpretation – an error hunt. What does the underlying evidence really mean and has it been analyzed correctly? Have the rules been followed? What could be overlooked?

Steven Avery (left) in Making a Murderer, Part 2

Steven Avery (left) in Make a murderer part 2

Netflix

Teresa Halbach

Teresa Halbach

Halbach Family / Herald Times Reporter / AP Photo

Life behind bars

As always, Avery – who was wrongfully convicted of a rape that he did not commit decades before Halbach's death – remains a test of Rorschach in the opinion of his case: his insistence on his innocence is exactly what an innocent man would say or the purest proof of his harm.

Whatever happens, a resolution will not be fast. Avery, 56, is still at the "beginning" of his appeals process, which will take another 18 to 24 months before going to court, said Zellner, who is preparing to file a memorial at the same time. autumn.

Dassey, now 28, has fewer options. When a federal judge ruled in 2016 that his confession had been forced and that he should be granted a new trial, a higher court overturned that decision and in June, the US Supreme Court refused to to seize the question.

Dassey's next move has not been announced, although he may seek clemency or find new evidence of a violation of his rights. His longtime lawyers, Steven Drizin and Laura Nirider, tell PEOPLE that they "continue to fight for him".

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Brendan Dassey in 2007

Brendan Dassey in 2007

AP / L photo after-crescent, Dan Powers

Since the creation of the series in December 2015, the life imprisonment of both men reflects the limits of their incarceration as well as their fame. Avery is engaged twice during her detention and spends time at the Waupun correctional internment at maximum security, working in the kitchen and receiving visits from family and a few close friends, says Zellner. She emphasizes nevertheless: "It's a hell on Earth."

Detained in Columbia's maximum-security penitentiary, Dassey is busy writing letters – like his uncle, he receives numerous messages of support – or reads and watches television, though he's not sure what he's doing. none of them could see Make a murderer.

RELATED: Make a murdererSteven Avery asks that we check if the plants were planted

Avery remains optimistic about his future, according to Zellner. His certainty reflects it.

"He will die in prison before accepting a deal," she says, continuing:

"That's why I'm so sure he's innocent. … This is the strongest characteristic of an innocent man: they will die in jail before confessing their guilt, it's Steven Avery. "

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