April 02, 2024 / By mobanmarket
WISCONSIN — Seventeen years after the murder trial of Manitowoc County resident Steven Avery took place in the tiny farming community of Chilton, Wisconsin, former prosecutor Ken Kratz is now sharing a diary he supposedly wrote at the time of Avery’s jury trial in the killing of 25-year-old Teresa Halbach.
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The timing of last week’s publication of Kratz’s Steven Avery murder trial diary by the Wisconsin Law Journal raises a lot of questions. I, among many others chronicling the case made world-famous by the December 2015 Netflix true-crime documentary “Making a Murderer,” don’t believe Kratz actually wrote the diary 17 years ago, filed it away inside his desk drawer and suddenly had the urge to share it with the Wisconsin news media last week.
I believe it’s much more likely that Kratz crafted his trial diary in the last six months or so.
After all, Kratz’s sharing of his diary comes just weeks after the former Calumet County District Attorney’s announcement on social media that after a four-year absence, Kratz has returned to X, formerly known as Twitter.
Regardless of when he wrote it, it’s reprehensible that Kratz would publish a self-gratifying diary on a murder case in which Kratz chose to look the other way on multiple pieces of evidence that probably originated from police misconduct and evidence tampering including:
In any event, the diary reveals Kratz was a win-at-all costs Wisconsin prosecutor who despised Avery’s criminal defense lawyers, Jerry Buting and Dean Strang. Kratz’s diary included multiple demeaning references about them.
Even more bizarre than his diary’s repeated bashing of Strang and Buting, Kratz ripped now-retired Manitowoc County Judge Patrick Willis for allowing Buting and Strang, during closing arguments, to suggest Bobby Dassey, Steven Avery’s nephew, could be Halbach’s real killer.
“Jury selection completed … This afternoon I also met with Karen Halbach, the victim’s mother, who agreed to allow me to hold Teresa’s ‘St. Christopher medal’ as part of the trial. I feel very comforted that a symbol that was so important to Teresa will be with me throughout the trial. Frankly, on these occasions that I feel a need for additional support, having a part of Teresa with me.”
Diary example 2:
“Today was our first opportunity to address the defense theory of ‘planted evidence’ head on. We started with Sgt. Andy Colborn, who is one of 2 Manitowoc County Sheriff’s deputies that the defense has claimed planted blood inside the victim’s SUV.
“Sgt. Colborn has been the most emotionally affected by the defense allegations, since they surfaced in late December. He’s never been on the front page before, and you can tell his credibility and integrity have never been questioned. We’ve been very upset that the Court has allowed any evidence of a ‘frame up’ defense, since there is no way to connect any cops to the presence of an old vial of blood, located last summer in the Clerk of Cts office in Manitowoc …”
Diary example 3:
“The other witness … from Cingular Wireless, Laura Schadrie … turned out to be a substitute for their technical witness, who was on maternity leave – with what I thought was an agreement from the defense (Stipulation as to the records). I didn’t think it would be a problem. But one of the Defense attorneys, Jerome Buting, who revels in being a jerk, especially in front of the jury, made it look like these records not only were contested, but showed Teresa may even have been alive and 2 days after she was murdered. This blatant attempt to mislead the jury, and make the state look foolish in the process, caused problems the rest of the day …”
Diary example 4:
“Then Buting dropped a huge bombshell when asking the jury if perhaps ‘Bobby Dassey’ may have killed Teresa. I immediately objected, furious because the court had ruled, before trial, that there was no evidence to support a theory of third-party liability for several people, including Bobby Dassey … I honestly thought Buting’s comment was an intentional attempt to create a mistrial — sometimes when all the evidence has gone so badly for your client, a purposeful comment, which leads to a mistrial, grants your client another new shot at a better presentation of evidence …”
Diary example 5:
“The judge enters judgements on the verdicts and revokes bail … I meet w/ the Halbach family: I remind them that the Avery family has also suffered a loss today and remember them in their prayers. A priest has joined the family, and I invite a prayer for Teresa and the strength showed by the Halbachs.
“The 50+ family and friends provide a very heartfelt round of applause for me and the rest of the prosecution team. An embrace for Karen, the boys, and congratulations all around. I give a brief press conference. I call into WTMJ and talk to host Jeff Wagner. We all go to celebrate the results at the Outpost bar and grill, close to the Halbach family home. My whole staff, most of the Halbach’s, my family, lots of cops and well-wishers join us. I am relieved and pleased with the results. The news the next day has already been very positive, both for the entire prosecution effort and for me personally.”
Related Patch coverage of Steven Avery case:
Zellner Exposes Judge Sutkiewicz’s Errors In Steven Avery Case: Ferak
Steven Avery’s Australian Connection: Businessman Believes His Cause
Andy Colborn Loses Making A Murderer Defamation Suit V. Netflix
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