"The Stranger Beside Me"

A film based on Anne Rule's remarkable "true crime" memoir, "The Stranger Beside Me," is scheduled for viewing in my area at 8PM Eastern time tonight, Jan. 26th. I'm posting to alert anyone reading here who might be interested, just in case it's available in your area as well. It's not on one of the major networks, but a relatively new one called "Decades."

"Making a Murderer" - part 4: red herrings

In the context of criminal investigation, a "red herring" is a piece of bogus or questionable evidence, or lack of same, used to distract investigators, or a jury, from the central issues of the case. According to one explanation, "if a herring is dragged across a trail that hounds are following, it throws them off the scent." A red herring is typically an isolated piece of inconclusive evidence, or odd discrepancy, that can't be immediately explained. When skillfully employed, as in the Avery case, red herrings can be used to induce gullible jurors, along with members of the media and the public, to take seriously even the most preposterous claims.

"Making a Murderer" - Part 3

6. Let's turn now to Brendan Dassey. His police interviews are now available on youtube. Both are fascinating. Here's one:

Here's another:

Unfortunately the earliest interview was recorded on audio only, and the recording is extremely noisy. I tried to clean it up using noise reduction techniques, but nothing helped. It really seems unusable, because hardly anything said is clearly audible. The sound on the videos, however, is adequate, and despite the very annoying dropouts in the second one, there is more than enough important information that comes through loud and clear.

"Making a Murderer" - Part 2

4. I would now like to consider the DNA evidence that was found. While the prosecution stressed the importance of DNA, supposedly from Avery's sweat, found on the hood  of the victim's vehicle, I see that evidence as questionable. If any of the investigators had been in contact with Avery, or touched any of his clothing, prior to their discovery of the vehicle, then his DNA could have been transferred to the hood indirectly. And I'm afraid the same could be said for Avery's DNA found on the victim's car key, which could also have been transferred inadvertently by an investigator. Before evaluating that evidence, it would be necessary to learn whether strict precautions had been taken to make sure such a transfer could not have occurred, and I doubt that was the case. Same with the victim's DNA found on the spent bullet in the garage. If the same gloves had been used to handle the victim's remains and handle the bullet, there could have been inadvertent transfer. As I've stressed with respect to the Ramsey case, DNA evidence is not always what it seems, and can be seriously misleading.

Some Observations Regarding the "Making a Murderer" Documentary

I rarely comment here on anything but the Ramsey case. But from time to time, as with the Amanda Knox case, I find myself compelled to speak out in defense of justice. The murder of Teresa Halbach, as presented in the so-called documentary, "Making a Murderer," is such a case. I write "so-called" because this 10 part film, now available via Netflix, is not a documentary at all, but a propaganda film, shamelessly serving the interests of Avery's defense team. I'm reminded of the notorious A&E "documentary" put together by Michael Tracey to whitewash the Ramseys. What's particularly disturbing in both cases is the powerful influence of such films on the mind of the public. At some point in our history, it would seem, critical thinking seems to have been supplanted by media hype. So now we have a situation where literally millions of Americans are convinced that the conviction of a vicious rapist and murderer, practically caught in the act, is a travesty of justice performed by a conspiracy involving both corrupt police officials and the FBI. I can't cover everything that bothers me about this treatment of the case, but I'd like to share some pertinent observations:

Open Thread -- Part Eight

Part Seven filled up quickly and is now a bit cumbersome. So -- on to Part Eight!