It’s no secret that today’s world has advanced in criminal forensics to create a “fair” criminal justice system. However, individuals still act on their emotions and prejudice when convicting someone wrongfully. That is the case for Steven Avery.
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On July 29, 1985, Penny Ann Beersten was sexually assaulted on the Lake Michigan shoreline. Despite not having her full vision, Beersten signed the incident report that described her assailant as Steven Avery.
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The errors in the case began before the crime, with the police department feuding with the Averys. Steven Avery had a criminal past and not even the year prior had been arrested for a car incident involving his cousin Sandra Morris, who had been married to the sheriff’s deputy. The event caused the department to strengthen its hatred towards Steven, with the already festering dislike of the Averys. So, when Beersten described someone similar to Steven, the detectives said, “Sounds like Steven Avery,” and had a sketch composed of Avery’s 1984 mugshot to show the victim before a lineup. Thus, when the lineup happened, Beersten picked Steven because he had been the only man the police had shown. All these factors caused the warped testimony that Beersten gave, which wrongfully convicted Steven.
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However, there were still factors in the case, such as rights violated. The police department had ignored claims on Gary Allen, a repeated sexual offender, who fit the crime better and frequented the beach where Penny Beersten was assaulted. Determined to punish Avery, the department prevented him from receiving his one phone call and an attorney, which violated the law. The judge also discredited the accounts of multiple eyewitnesses, who had been with Avery and a receipt from a Burger King where he had taken his family that day. Nothing in the case was in the favor of Steven Avery.
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It would be 18 years later that Steven Avery was exonerated, with the discovery of DNA testing, Avery was able to prove his innocence. The DNA testing also found a cold hit on Garry Allen, who would claim another victim in the same location two years after. I believe that faulty identification should’ve been avoided, had the police done their job correctly and without bias. They should’ve first allowed Beersten to give a sketch of her assailant without them just presenting one to her. Also, they should had multiple suspects instead being focusing on purely one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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It’s no secret that today’s world has advanced in criminal forensics to create a “fair” criminal justice system. However, individuals still act on their emotions and prejudice when convicting someone wrongfully. That is the case for Steven Avery. On July … Continue reading