'Making a Murderer' subject set for release

Brendan Dassey - Making a Murderer (Reuters)
Brendan Dassey - Making a Murderer (Reuters)

Brendan Dassey, the subject of the 10-part Netflix documentary series Making a Murderer, is set to walk free after his prison sentence was quashed.

Mr Dassey had been convicted on several charges including first-degree intentional homicide and second-degree sexual assault, and was set to spend 41 years in prison.

Making a Murderer followed the story of Steven Avery, Mr Dassey's uncle, who had served 18 years in prison for sexual assault and attempted murder before his exoneration in 2003.

Avery was subsequently arrested and convicted in 2007 for the murder of a local photographer two years earlier - the crime in which Mr Dassey was also implicated.

According to the show, Mr Dassey's original confession was coerced, and evidence had been planted to help convict Avery.  It was this which ultimately led to Mr Dassey's release, with a Wisconsin judge finding that his confession was involuntary.

The series, recently confirmed to be returning for a second season, debuted last year to huge critical acclaim, and attracted a widespread following with viewers outraged at the outcome of the case.

Making a Murderer was filmed over 10 years and helped continue the popular trend in long format documentaries, following HBO's The Jinx and popular podcast Serial.

Newshub.