Day 3 - February 14, 2007

Nicole Sturm described finding a RAV-4 at the salvage yard, photographing it, and using a tissue to check its doors. She said she could not yet definitely identify it as Teresa Halbach’s vehicle. On cross-examination, she clarified that she moved what she believed was a salvage part to reach a handle and had not checked the rear door. Bobby Dassey testified that he saw a woman he later identified as Halbach photograph a van and walk toward Steven Avery’s trailer, but did not see her enter. He also recounted a later remark by Avery about getting rid of a body, which Dassey said sounded like a joke. The defense sought a mistrial over differences between that testimony and a disclosed report. The court declined, while acknowledging that the date difference could affect credibility, and allowed the defense to interview Dassey before cross-examination the next morning. State Patrol trooper Timothy Austin then explained his measurements and computer-generated scene models. He distinguished the models from photographs and said one diagram showed distance, not whether the RAV-4 could be seen from the crusher. An equipment problem prevented the court from playing an animation, which was received but not admitted.