Witness

Blaine Dassey

Brendan Dassey's brother and a witness in both 2007 trials concerning Teresa Halbach's death.

547 lines·26 proceedings·19 mentions·2 trials

About

Blaine Dassey testified about his observations on October 31, 2005, in both trials. In Steven Avery's trial, he said he saw Avery put a plastic bag into a burning barrel, though he could not say what was in it, and saw a bonfire behind the garage when he returned around 11 p.m. He ultimately said he could not identify the person near that fire. Cross-examination contrasted those statements with earlier denials that he had seen either fire and addressed his account of a police interview in which officers argued and raised their voices. In Brendan Dassey's trial, Blaine described being home with Brendan after school, leaving later, and seeing him in bed upon returning. He again described the burning barrel and bonfire but identified the person beside the bonfire only by size. Questioning tested his differing accounts of whether he saw Brendan after returning home.

Trial Record (26)

AverySteven AveryFeb 12, 2007 – Mar 18, 2007Called by prosecution

Blaine Dassey testified on Day 12 of Steven Avery's 2007 trial that he saw Avery put a bag into a burning barrel and later saw a bonfire, though he could not identify the person near the nighttime fire. Cross-examination tested that account against his earlier denials of seeing the fires.

Day 3

Feb 14, 2007

DirectBobby Dassey — Direct Examination by Kenneth R. KratzBobby DasseyKenneth R. KratzMentioned

Summary

Bobby Dassey described the photographer's visit, the SUV's presence when he left to hunt, a later remark by Steven, and property features shown in photographs.

Mentioned in this proceeding.

Day 4

Feb 15, 2007

CrossBobby Dassey — CrossBobby DasseyDean A. StrangMentioned

Summary

Strang tested Bobby Dassey's account of the garage remark, what he observed before leaving to hunt, and when he woke on October 31.

Mentioned in this proceeding.

Day 12

Feb 27, 2007

DirectBlaine Dassey — DirectBlaine DasseyKenneth R. Kratz3highlights214lines spoken

Summary

Blaine Dassey described Steven Avery putting a bag into a burning barrel after school and a later bonfire behind the garage, but could not identify the person he saw near the nighttime fire.

Highlights (3)

testimony highlightBlaine said he saw Steven Avery throw a plastic bag into his burning barrel shortly after the school bus arrived. He described smoke and flames but could not identify the bag's contents, type, or size.Open in transcript →

testimony highlightBlaine described a bonfire behind the garage at about 11 p.m. Although he first called the person there Steven Avery, he then said he saw only one person and could not identify who it was.Open in transcript →

confrontationAfter briefly saying he saw flames when leaving to go trick-or-treating, Blaine clarified that he first saw the bonfire when he came home.Open in transcript →

CrossBlaine Dassey — CrossBlaine DasseyDean A. Strang121lines spoken

Summary

Strang tested Blaine Dassey's fire account against earlier police interviews and questioned him about a confrontational November 15 interview; the court limited how a police report could be used to refresh his recollection.

RedirectBlaine Dassey — RedirectBlaine DasseyKenneth R. Kratz15lines spoken

Summary

Blaine confirmed his November 15 fire account and said Steven's habit of bossing him around—not fear of retaliation—explained why he had said he was scared.

RecrossBlaine Dassey — RecrossBlaine DasseyDean A. Strang5lines spoken

Summary

Blaine confirmed seeing one person at the bonfire and speaking with Brendan inside the house after returning home.

Day 19

Mar 8, 2007

ProceduralMotion for judgment of acquittalMentioned

Summary

The defense sought acquittal on four counts, concentrating on whether the evidence supported false imprisonment. The State opposed the motion; the court did not rule.

Mentioned in this proceeding.

DirectLisa Buchner — DirectLisa BuchnerDean A. StrangMentioned

Summary

Bus driver Lisa Buchner recalled seeing a woman photograph a van near the Dassey boys' drop-off, but could not recall the exact day.

Mentioned in this proceeding.

Day 22

Mar 13, 2007

Charge ConferenceFormal Jury Instruction ConferenceMentioned

Summary

The court approved a defense-theory instruction, denied separate exhibit-weight and spoliation instructions, and agreed to add prior-statement language to the jury instructions.

Mentioned in this proceeding.

Day 23

Mar 14, 2007

ClosingState’s Closing Argument by Kenneth KratzKenneth R. KratzMentioned

Summary

Kratz began the State's closing with the RAV4, blood and DNA evidence, and burned electronics; an objection led the court to remind jurors that argument is not fact.

Mentioned in this proceeding.

ClosingState’s Closing Argument ResumesKenneth R. KratzMentioned

Summary

Kratz completed the State's closing by linking its timeline, burn-area, firearm, and DNA arguments and requesting guilty verdicts on the three remaining charges.

Mentioned in this proceeding.

Day 24

Mar 15, 2007

ClosingDefense closing argument by Dean StrangDean A. StrangMentioned

Summary

Strang urged jurors to find reasonable doubt, challenging the State's timeline, investigative conduct, forensic testing, and interpretation of physical evidence.

Mentioned in this proceeding.

DasseyBrendan DasseyApr 16, 2007 – Apr 25, 2007Called by defense

Blaine Dassey testified for the defense in Brendan Dassey's trial about seeing his brother at home after school on October 31 and about a burn barrel and bonfire near Steven Avery's garage. Cross-examination tested differences in his accounts of seeing Brendan later that night and of who stood near the bonfire.

Day 1

Apr 16, 2007

OpeningDefense Opening StatementMark R. FremgenMentioned

Summary

Fremgen previewed an alternative account of Dassey's Halloween evening and challenged the expected physical evidence and reliability of his recorded statements.

Mentioned in this proceeding.

Day 3

Apr 18, 2007

CrossKayla Avery — CrossKayla AveryMark R. FremgenMentioned

Summary

Kayla Avery admitted lying to officers and said some details in her earlier account came from news coverage, while she could not recall the source of another claim.

Mentioned in this proceeding.

Day 6

Apr 21, 2007

CrossMark Wiegert — CrossMark WiegertRaymond L. EdelsteinMentioned

Summary

Edelstein tested Wiegert's March 1 interview techniques and the physical corroboration for Brendan's account; Wiegert acknowledged false suggestions and explained why recovered hair was not compared.

Mentioned in this proceeding.

DirectBlaine Dassey — DirectBlaine DasseyMark R. Fremgen92lines spoken

Summary

Blaine Dassey described Brendan's after-school activities at home, said he did not see him leave before 5:20 p.m., and discussed Brendan's weight loss and demeanor.

CrossBlaine Dassey — CrossBlaine DasseyKenneth R. Kratz83lines spoken

Summary

Kratz challenged changes in Blaine Dassey's account of Brendan's whereabouts and a person by a bonfire; Blaine also described Steven Avery putting a plastic bag into a burning barrel.

RedirectBlaine Dassey — RedirectBlaine DasseyMark R. Fremgen17lines spoken

Summary

Blaine clarified when he saw Steven at the burn barrel and when he left home, then addressed differences between his accounts of seeing Brendan that night.

DirectMichael Kornely — DirectMichael KornelyMark R. FremgenMentioned

Summary

Kornely said he spoke with Brendan during a call to the Dassey residence shortly before 6 p.m. on October 31 and was told Blaine had gone trick-or-treating.

Mentioned in this proceeding.

CrossMichael Kornely — CrossMichael KornelyNorman A. GahnMentioned

Summary

Kornely could not verify his October 31 call time from his Sprint record and agreed the call might have been as early as 5:15 p.m.

Mentioned in this proceeding.

RedirectMichael Kornely — RedirectMichael KornelyMark R. FremgenMentioned

Summary

Kornely favored a call time closer to 6 p.m. but acknowledged that he could not recall it precisely and may have given law enforcement an earlier estimate.

Mentioned in this proceeding.

Day 7

Apr 23, 2007

DirectBrendan Dassey — DirectBrendan DasseyMark R. FremgenMentioned

Summary

Brendan Dassey described his October 31 activities, the bonfire and garage cleanup, and his response to statements he made to investigators.

Mentioned in this proceeding.

CrossBrendan Dassey — CrossBrendan DasseyThomas J. FallonMentioned

Summary

Fallon tested Dassey's trial denials against recorded statements, his bonfire and garage-cleanup account, and drawings he made for investigators.

Mentioned in this proceeding.

Day 8

Apr 24, 2007

DirectRobert H. Gordon — DirectRobert H. GordonMark R. FremgenMentioned

Summary

Robert H. Gordon testified that his testing and review of interview materials led him to conclude Brendan Dassey was highly suggestible when questioned with leading questions or mild pressure. The examination also addressed disputed IQ-chart labeling and records Gordon reviewed after writing his report.

Mentioned in this proceeding.

Day 9

Apr 25, 2007

ProceduralRenewed motion to dismiss Count 3 and corroboration rulingMentioned

Summary

The court denied the renewed motion to dismiss amended Count 3, finding sufficient corroboration of Brendan Dassey's confession.

Mentioned in this proceeding.

ClosingProsecution closing argument by Thomas J. FallonThomas J. FallonMentioned

Summary

Fallon argued that Dassey's statements were corroborated, that his alleged acts made him a party to all three crimes, and that the jury should return guilty verdicts.

Mentioned in this proceeding.