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US man who was jailed in error convicted of murder

A man who spent 18 years in prison for a rape he did not commit was convicted of murdering a photographer, whose charred bones were found in a burn pit outside his Wisconsin home.

Steven Avery, 44, put his head down and shook it when the verdict was read on Sunday. He faces a mandatory life prison term for killing Teresa Halbach, 25, on Halloween in 2005 near his family's salvage yard.

Halbach disappeared Oct. 31, 2005, after going to the yard in Manitowoc County to photograph a minivan that Avery's sister had for sale through Auto Trader magazine. Avery had called to request the photo, testimony showed.

A few days later, Halbach's vehicle was found in the Avery salvage lot under branches, pieces of wood and car parts. Investigators then spent a week on the property and found charred fragments of her bones in a pit behind Avery's garage and in a barrel, along with her camera and cellphone.

Two years before Halbach died, Avery was released from prison after serving 18 years for a Manitowoc County rape that DNA analysis showed he did not commit. He later settled a wrongful-conviction lawsuit against the county for US$400,000 and used it for his defense.

After the verdict was read, Halbach's brother, Mike Halbach, 24, told reporters that he was pleased and that he believed his sister's spirit guided the jury.

"What matters is that Steven Avery is going to be in prison for rest of his life, which ... from the start is what we wanted," he said.

Defense lawyer Dean Strang said Avery was disappointed but not despondent. He said they plan to consider challenging the conviction within 30 days.

The jury convicted Avery of first-degree intentional homicide and being a felon in possession of a firearm. He was acquitted of mutilating a corpse. The panel deliberated over three days and heard a month of testimony.

The jurors issued a statement saying none would discuss the case.
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