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PEOPLE & ARTS A31
Q&A: A look at Netflix’s documentary ‘Making a Murderer’
GREG MOORE
CARRIE ANTLFINGER
Associated Press
MILWAUKEE (AP) — The 10-
part Netflix documentary
series “Making a Murderer,”
which casts doubt on the
legal process in the case of
convicted killers Steven Av-
ery and his then-teenage
nephew Brendan Dassey,
has prompted celebrities
to armchair sleuths to flood
online message boards
and Twitter feeds.
Authorities involved with
the Wisconsin case are say-
ing the series is slanted and
omits crucial facts that led
to Avery and Dassey being
found guilty in the death of
photographer Teresa Hal-
bach.
The filmmakers, meanwhile,
are standing by their work
that spans nearly a de-
cade and largely concen-
trates on the defense and
perspective of Avery and
Dassey’s relatives.
The rush of attention has left sheriff’s deputies planted
many wondering: How did
we get here? And what’s
next?
Q: SO WHAT’S THE BIG
DEAL?
A: Avery made national
headlines in 2003 when he
was released after spend-
ing nearly two decades
behind bars after being
wrongfully convicted of
rape. Two years later, Avery
and Dassey were charged
with killing Halbach, who
visited the Avery family sal-
Why ‘Bachelor’ Ben Higgins refrained from kissing on night 1
ALICIA RANCILIO
Associated Press
NEW YORK (AP) — With
28 women vying for one
man’s attention on ABC’s
“The Bachelor,” it would
be easy for Ben Higgins to
get an ego boost, but the
26-year-old says he pur-
posely didn’t kiss anyone
on the season’s premiere
episode.
“It was important for me
to set standards on night
one,” he said. “I knew at
the end of the night I was
going to have to say good-
bye to seven women and I
wanted to make sure that
I was getting the most out
of our time together. ... The
physical part, I thought,
vage yard to take photos
of a minivan on Halloween.
Her bones and belongings
were found burned near
Avery’s trailer. Both were
convicted and sentenced
to life terms, but only Das-
sey is eligible for parole — in visited the Avery family salvage yard to take photos of a mini-
2048.
Q: WHY HAS THE DOCUMEN-
TARY BEEN SO POPULAR?
A: Its release was impecca-
bly timed. It was released
before Christmas, while
much of the nation was
on holiday break and had
time to delve into a 10-hour
series. Also, it comes on the
heels of the popular pod-
cast “Serial,” which lays out
a complex legal case and
has generated intense so-
cial media participation.
Q: WHAT EXACTLY IS IN THE
DOCUMENTARY?
A: The documentary strong-
ly suggests the possibil-
ity that Manitowoc County
evidence against Avery,
including a key found in his
bedroom and blood found
in the victim’s vehicle. But
Sheriff Robert Hermann de-
nied that Tuesday. “They
did not plant evidence,”
Hermann said. “I trust them
100 percent. Quite frankly,
I think justice was served
in this case.” He said he
watched the series, and
added: “I call it a film. It’s
missing a lot of important
pieces of evidence.”
could wait. It comes, I’m
not going to say it doesn’t.
It is part of a relationship,
right? It is important in a
relationship, but on night
one, it was important for
me to take advantage of
that time.”
Higgins, a 26-year-old busi-
ness analyst who lives in
Denver, competed on the
last season of “The Bache-
lorette.” He finished in third
place.
He credits his strong faith
for giving him perspective
while dating so many wom-
en at one time.
“I think God has continued
to remind me from day one
that I am not the biggest
thing out there, no matter
Friday 8 January 2016
In this 2007 photo, Brendan Dassey is escorted into court for his other media outlets that
sentencing in Manitowoc, Wis. The Netflix documentary series the documentary ignores
“Making a Murderer” tells the story of a Wisconsin man wrongly the majority of the physical
convicted of sexual assault only to be accused, along with his evidence. The omissions in-
nephew, of killing a photographer two years after being re- clude the fact that Avery’s
leased. Steven Avery and his then 17-year-old nephew Dassey DNA was found on the
were accused of killing Teresa Halbach, a photographer who hood latch on Halbach’s
SUV, which was hidden on
van on Halloween and was never seen alive again. the salvage lot. Kratz has
also said a bullet fired from
(Herald Times Reporter/Eric Young/AP) Avery’s gun was found in
his garage with Halbach’s
Q: WHY DO AUTHORITES Dassey family members. DNA on it.
SAY IT’S BIASED? The case’s special pros-
A: The series spends much ecutor, Ken Kratz, refused Q: WHAT DO THE FILMMAK-
of its time detailing the to comment to The Associ- ERS SAY?
perspective of Avery and ated Press, but he has told A: Laura Ricciardi and
Moira Demos have stood
by their work. They said in
an email to the AP through
Netflix representatives that
critics who might say they
intentionally omitted or un-
derplayed key evidence to
make the series more enter-
taining or tragic are wrong.
“Those accusations are un-
true and unfounded,” the
statement said.
Q: THERE’S AN ONLINE PETI-
TION SEEKING A PARDON —
COULD IT WORK?
A: It seems unlikely for a lot
of reasons. For one thing,
the request posted on
Change.org started by pe-
titioning President Barack
Obama, who has no such
authority in this type of
case, since it’s not a federal
matter. The petition, which
recently was rewritten to
include Wisconsin Gov.
Scott Walker and remove
the word “presidential”
from the text of the appeal.
what people say or what I “The Bachelorette” and secret right now. ... That is
read,” Higgins said. “The Bachelor,” how are not easy, I leave for so long
He says it has also reminded you able to take so much and then I come back.
him to think about the big- time off from work? And they don’t necessar-
ger meaning, which he be- Higgins: The company I ily know what happens or
lieves “is love and not just work for has been incred- what my life has been like
romantic love but just lov- ible to me this last year. or where I’ve gone, or what
ing other people and that When I first asked them to I’ve done or the people
really helped me as I had take time off for ‘The Bach- I’ve met, or the women I’ve
to say goodbye to some of elorette,’ they said, ‘You dated. It’s hard and I am
these women as well. To just know what? This is an ex- excited to get this season
try to love them as best as I perience you can’t pass started, (the premiere epi-
could as I said goodbye.” up on. You need to do it.’ sode) was a big night for
Higgins talked about main- They’re still supportive and me because it means that
taining a career while on say, ‘When you’re ready, my family and friends are
reality television, secrecy come back.’ I still have a going to know more about
and whether props on the job, I still have a career. me again. I like to be a
show, which airs Monday AP: Is it difficult to keep the pretty transparent person, I
at 8 p.m. EST, hurt or help in show’s outcome a secret don’t like to hide too many
a recent interview with The from the people in your things from people and I
Associated Press. life? have had to hide a lot right
Associated Press: Between Higgins: A lot of my life is a now.