The fate of Steven Avery is now in the hands of seven men and five women, as the jury begins deliberations in his murder trial. Avery is accused of the October 2005 murder of Teresa Halbach, who went missing after going to the Avery family salvage yard to photograph a van. Halbach vehicles and burned remains were later found on the property. The jury is deliberating charges of first-degree intentional homicide, mutilating a corpse and felony possession of a firearm.
During the closing arguments in Chilton, Special Prosecutor Ken Kratz said the evidence shows Avery is guilty. He says the case is made up of a complex series of facts, but the decision should not be a difficult one. Kratz says all the evidence pointed towards Avery as the person responsible for Halbach's death.
Avery's defense attorneys have maintained that he was framed because of a lawsuit filed against Manitowoc County. Avery spent 18 years in prison for a rape he didn't commit, which DNA evidence finally cleared him of. Defense Attorney Dean Strang called on the jury to decide if it is possible that police planted evidence to link Avery to the murder. Strang also urged the jury to "get it right" in finding that Avery has not been proved guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
The jury began deliberations Thursday afternoon. Members will be sequestered in Chilton through the remainder of the trial. [WHBY's Mike Kemmeter contributed to this report.]
