Attention is on Making a Murderer's Brendan Dassey once again.
Followers of the case that was spotlighted in Netflix's true-crime docu-series await a decision on one of the latest legal developments.
But before we deep-dive into the most recent update, and what it could mean, first let us take a quick look back at what has brought us to this point.
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Brendan and his uncle Steven Avery were both convicted in 2007 for alleged involvement in the murder of Teresa Halbach. Dassey was found guilty of sexual assault, party to homicide and mutilation of a corpse, while Avery was convicted of intentional homicide and being a felon in possession of a firearm.
They have each maintained their innocence and have been appealing the convictions against them ever since.
The release of Making a Murderer Part 1, which documented the original trials, had viewers across the globe questioning whether or not Avery and Dassey were guilty. In response to the series, both the family of Teresa Halbach and the prosecution shared criticisms. This continued after the second season was released, particularly from the ever-vocal Ken Kratz.
Related: Making a Murderer lawyers "angry and discouraged" about Brendan Dassey's appeals outcome
Making a Murderer's second season, which dropped on Netflix last year and documented the appeals process, ended with both Dassey and Avery still behind bars. For a while it looked as though Dassey was literally moments away from being released, following a successful appeal ruling, but his hopes were then dashed when Wisconsin state prosecutors filed emergency documents to halt his release.
In February 2018, Dassey's legal team sought a judicial review by the Supreme Court, but this was denied four months later. He is therefore, as of the time of writing, still in prison.
So, what's the latest Brendan Dassey update?
On October 2, it was announced that Brendan Dassey's legal team would be taking a new approach.
His post-conviction lawyers – Steven Drizin and Laura Nirider, who both appeared in the second season of the true-crime documentary series – launched a campaign to try and persuade the state's Governor Tony Evers to grant Dassey clemency (via New York Times).
Laura Nirider then announced that Evers had vowed to consider the application and take a look at Dassey's request.
According to the official information available from the Governor's Pardon Advisory Board, someone is only eligible for a pardon in Wisconsin if they have completed their sentence for a felony conviction five years ago or more. As we know, Brendan Dassey does not meet this criteria.
However, Evers' office confirmed that it had received Dassey's application and, in a statement to local news outlet Channel3000, also said: "We give every pardon application careful review and consideration."
It seems as though Dassey is still waiting for the decision to be made – at least, according to Post-Crescent (Appleton, Wisconsin).
The publication spoke with Kasia Majerczak, a social worker with Dassey's defence team, who speaks to him on the phone and sometimes visits him in prison. She revealed that Brendan "has learned to be patient" after 13 years in prison for a crime he says he did not commit.
"He is someone who the justice system has forgotten about," Majerczak later added.
Why is this happening now?
Back in May 2019, during a TV interview with News 3 Now, the Governor, who entered office in January, revealed his plan to restore the pardon process in Wisconsin.
"There's a point in everybody's life where they've done something really stupid, and obviously, if you end up in the correctional institution, that's more serious than others. But you have to believe in redemption and giving people a second chance," Evers said at the time.
What could this mean for Brendan Dassey?
Phoebe Petrovic, an investigative reporter and criminal justice project manager, has covered the news extensively in a comprehensive Twitter thread. She has said that the pardon that Dassey's lawyers are seeking "could result in his immediate release" if it is successful.
Quoting the original press release, Petrovic said that his lawyer's grounds include "both Brendan's innocence and the extreme length of his sentence".
What's more, according to Petrovic, Mark Osler (a law professor and clemency expert), noted that this happened earlier this year in the case of Cyntoia Brown in Tennessee.
Related: Brendan Dassey's confession on Making a Murderer: We've had it analysed by an expert
As part of this move towards clemency, Dassey's lawyers have released a number of documents relating to his case, as well as a Wrongful Conviction podcast interview and related video footage. There is also an internet petition that anyone can sign, and it is addressed directly to Governor Evers asking him to grant clemency to Brendan Dassey.
A handwritten letter, from Dassey to Evers, has also been shared:
An excerpt reads: "I am writing to ask for a pardon because I am innocent and want to go home. If I would get to go home, I would like to get a job involving video games. I would like to help take care of my mom and one day have a son and a daughter of my own."
These new developments have sparked a renewed buzz and interest in the case.
Damien Echols, one of the West Memphis Three, has voiced his support for Brendan Dassey on social media. Nirider was also one of Echols' attorneys while he was on Death Row, before his release in 2011 after taking the controversial Alford plea.
Kim Kardashian, who is currently studying to become a lawyer and has been campaigning for justice reform, has also made a public plea to the governor to read Dassey's letter. She also has her own true-crime documentary in the works.
In response to this, Brendan's lawyer said: "Kim Kardashian has worked to free many prisoners who deserve release, working with politicians across the aisle. We are grateful for her support of Brendan's clemency effort."
In an opinion piece for CNN (November 4), the aforementioned Mark Osler (the Robert and Marion Short Professor of Law at the University of St. Thomas in Minnesota) argued that "Evers would be wise to use the ancient tool of the pardon power to achieve justice and mercy".
With the prospect of a third Making a Murderer season still up in the air, Dassey's new attempt at seeking clemency could be another avenue for the Netflix docu-series to explore, should they choose to once again point their cameras at the case.
It certainly seems like there's a lot left to say. Netflix, are you listening?
Making a Murderer seasons 1 and 2 are available to stream now on Netflix.
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TV Editor, Digital Spy Laura has been watching television for over 30 years and professionally writing about entertainment for almost 10 of those. Previously at LOOK and now heading up the TV desk at the UK's biggest TV and movies site Digital Spy, Laura has helped steer conversations around some of the most popular shows on the box. Laura has appeared on Channel 5 News and radio to talk viewing habits and TV recommendations. As well as putting her nerd-level Buffy knowledge to good use during an IRL meet with Sarah Michelle Gellar, Laura also once had afternoon tea with One Direction, has sat around the fire pit of the Love Island villa, spoken to Sir David Attenborough about the world's oceans and even interviewed Rylan from inside the Big Brother house (housemate status, forever pending).
