Appeals expected in Avery conviction in Wisconsin.

• Date: 26 March 2007

Byline: Jack Zemlicka

Sixty witnesses, nearly 500 pieces of evidence and 22 hours of deliberation were enough for a jury to convict Steven Avery of first-degree intentional homicide and being a felon in possession of a firearm. The question facing the defense is, what next? "We're going to let the dust settle and review our options," said defense attorney Jerome F. Buting, who along with fellow defense attorney, Dean A. Strang, have 30 days to file motions challenging the verdicts. After a grueling three-and-a-half week trial, Avery, 44, was found guilty on March 18 of murdering 25-year-old photographer Teresa Halbach. Avery was acquitted of the charge of mutilating a corpse, but still faces a mandatory sentence of life in prison. Avery gained national notoriety when, after 18 years in prison, he was released in 2003 after DNA evidence proved he was wrongly convicted. He is again in the spotlight after becoming the second person convicted of a serious crime after being cleared by DNA testing, and the first to be convicted of murder. With less than a month to file motions on the verdicts, Buting noted that in addition to several instances during the proceedings which will likely demand appeals, there were 15-20 pre-trial motions to consider regarding searches, venue and right to a fair trial. "It's really too early to say what we're definitely going to appeal, but there are several avenues being considered," said Buting. Inconsistent Convictions...