Steven Avery was back in court Tuesday, trying to get a new trial after he was convicted of killing Teresa Halbach. Avery's attorneys contend the jury finding their client guilty of the murder, but not mutilation of a corpse was inconsistent, and therefore warranted a new trial.
Manitowoc County Circuit Judge Patrick Willis didn't agree with their argument. He rejected the motion for a new trial, and ordered the case to proceed to sentencing on June 1st.
Willis says the argument of inconsistent verdicts has a place in civil suits, but not in criminal cases. The judge was not able to locate any reported Wisconsin criminal case where a conviction was reversed on such grounds. He told Avery the motion is better dealt with at the appeals court level, than in circuit court.
Avery was convicted in March for the October 2005 murder of photographer Teresa Halbach at his family's auto salvage yard. He faces a mandatory sentence of life in prison when he's sentenced next month.
(audio courtesy of WFRV-TV, Green Bay)