A couple thoughts:
*One of the biggest things in this documentary is the chasm in competency of a state appointed lawyer/public defender in comparison to a hired gun. Steven's lawyers were exceptional! Particularly, Dean Strang. If I ever find myself in some shyt, I hope I have the coin(s) to afford great representation (I'm going to law school myself; but, still). Moreover, I'd argue if Strang or a lawyer of his caliber were representing Brendan from the onset, he'd be a free man today. You have a 16 year old with the cognitive abilities of a child -- who is obviously easily intimated -- and giving wholly inconsistent statements; yet, confesses to a murder under guerrilla style coercion. He was telling people what he thought they wanted to hear, and had no understanding of the gravity of the situation. He was asking about his project for 6th period after confessing to a murder! A better lawyer would have ran amok. Len was incompetent at best and intentionally sabotaging Brendan at worst. His dearth of ability as lawyer is utterly sickening. Once the judge deemed that the confession was admissible, he had no course of action. He basically was ready to walk Brendan to the gallows himself at that juncture on some
shyt. The judge should have replaced him when Brendan FIRST requested new representation.
*I do not think Barbara was a bytch. I think she was a highly confused and frustrated mom trying to do what she thought would get her son free. In her heart, she knows Brendan didn't kill anyone and he's
still in jail for life. These are non-sophisticated and simple people. I'd wager most don't have past a 10th grade education. Their lot in life was to work in the Avery salvage and then to die, and they knew that was their destiny from early on. Families have cultures too. Their family culture obviously isn't one of an academic variety. So, Barbara nor Brendan not knowing what "inconsistent" means doesn't surprise me.
* I do think Steven did it, intuitively. However, I don't think there was enough to convict him. There's so many things that don't add up. How does the state find the key on the SEVENTH entry into a room laying in plain sight? How does Colburn call in Halbach's tag on November 2nd? Where the fukk was he reading that from? Why was that never answered? How do you find a bullet fragment FOUR months later?
* In my best attempt to put it together, Jodi was in jail for DUI. Steven's out and free. His main source of sex is forbidden. The victim was a nice looking young white woman. Probably the kind of woman Steven fantasized about when he was locked up for 18 years. I do think Steven killed her. I'm not sure of the context, though. Because there's no blood, blood splatter, etc. I don't think he killed her purposefully, but maybe he propositioned her and things went gravely wrong. I believe he panicked -- hence him not getting rid of the car. But, I'm not willing to commit to the car thing fully. The overwhelming lack of physical evidence subsequently lead to the state panicking as well (i.e. their "guy" was going to get off). I think they DEFINITELY planted the key. I feel confident in that. You find a key in plain sight after the 7th go 'round? And even more damning is is that none of her DNA is on the key, but only his
! I'm less certain about the car and bullet fragment being planted, but if you plant one thing what's one or two more items? The ease at which the cousin found the car is offsetting, but luck is a real thing. As aforementioned, if you plant a key, you'll plant additional items too. So, Steven could have simply gotten scared, panicked with the car or what have you. If he drives it off their property, he's liable to be seen driving her car. If he destroys it, he definitely looks guilty. Why would you destroy a car of a missing woman, breh
? If he leaves it, he can act willing-fully ignorant, but why not clean up the blood? So, with Colburn reading the tag 3 days before it's found and there being blood in the car; I can't rule out them planting it either.
*This shyt was excellent.