WTMJ-AM just reported that Brendan Dassey, convicted of 1st degree intentional homicide, mutiliation of the corpse, and 2nd-degree sexual assault in the murder of Theresa Halbach, will be getting regular parole hearings starting in 41 years. His uncle, Steven Avery, who was actually acquitted in the mutilation of a corpse charge but was convicted of the other two, identical charges, will never be walking out of a Wisconsin prison.
Revisions/extensions (10:59 am 8/2/2007, with a H/T to Mary) – the Lawgiver-In-Black who gave this ridiculous sentence, Jerome Fox, speaks:
“The court believes there is a moral need for substantial punishment for these crimes,” Judge Jerome Fox said.
Fox said during his ruling that this was the most serious crime the court had ever had before it.
“(Dassey) knew the difference between right and wrong, good and evil,” the judge said.
Then why did you give only 47 years? If I were a defense attorney, I would hope I end up in his courtroom. I would be arguing that my client should get even less because of the ridiculously-weak sentence given Dassey.
I don’t defend weak and wobbly judges, but I do think that the sentence was reasonable. The possibility of parole probably relates to Dassey’s age.
Given the horrific nature of Dassey’s crimes, I highly doubt that he has any chance of walking out of prison a free 59-year-old man.
He WILL be 58 when he gets out of prison, if he does at his first parole hearing. It’s pretty obvious that his Uncle duped him. Although he may know right and wrong, the pressure from his Uncle to partake in the events I think was probably too great. I am not sure that there was any way for him to get away from that situation unscathed.