The Latest: Brendan Dassey lawyers petition for his release

By The Associated Press

MADISON, Wis. – The Latest on a federal appeals court ruling that said a confession was improperly obtained from Brendan Dassey, one of two defendants in a Wisconsin killing that was the focus of the Netflix series “Making a Murderer” (all times local):

3:50 p.m.

Attorneys for a Wisconsin inmate featured in the Netflix series “Making a Murderer” have petitioned for his release now that a federal appeals court has ruled that his confession was coerced.

Lawyers for Brendan Dassey filed papers Friday saying Thursday’s decision by a three-judge appeals panel leaves no reason for further delays.

The court gave Wisconsin prosecutors until 5 p.m. Monday to file a response.

Dassey was 16 when he told detectives he helped his uncle, Steven Avery, rape and kill photographer Teresa Halbach in 2005.

Wisconsin Attorney General Brad Schimel says the state will take whatever steps are necessary to keep Dassey behind bars. He plans to ask the full Chicago-based 7th Circuit Court of Appeals to review the decision.

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10:45 a.m.

Wisconsin’s attorney general says he plans to ask the full 7th Circuit Court of Appeals to review a decision by three of its judges who ruled an inmate featured in the Netflix series “Making a Murderer” should be retried or freed.

Speaking on WTMJ-AM Friday, Brad Schimel says the state will have a better chance of reversing the decision with a full and “balanced” court.

A federal magistrate judge in Wisconsin ruled in August that investigators coerced Brendan Dassey into confessing and overturned his conviction. Schimel’s Justice Department appealed the ruling to the 7th Circuit. A three-judge panel issued its ruling Thursday.

Dassey, then 16, told detectives he helped his uncle, Steven Avery, rape and kill photographer Teresa Halbach in 2005.

Dassey’s attorneys say they will take immediate steps to secure his release. Schimel says the state will take whatever steps necessary to keep Dassey behind bars.

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12:21 a.m.

Prosecutors say they’ll seek to reverse an appeals court decision that the Brendan Dassey was sentenced to life in prison in 2007 in photographer Teresa Halbach’s death on Halloween two years earlier. Dassey told detectives he helped his uncle, Steven Avery, rape and kill Halbach. Dassey was 16 then and suffered from cognitive problems. He’s now 27.

Wisconsin’s attorney general plans to ask the full 7th Circuit Court of Appeals or the U.S. Supreme Court to review Thursday’s 2-1 split decision from a three-judge appeals panel.

Dassey’s attorneys say they’re elated and will take immediate steps to secure his release.

Avery is pursuing his own appeal.

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