The "Making A Murderer" Filmmakers Don't Think Steven Avery Is Guilty

"Is he guilty beyond a reasonable doubt? Nothing I’ve seen, and I’ve seen a lot of stuff, has convinced me of that."

Last night, the two filmmakers behind Netflix's new original series Making a Murderer were interviewed on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.

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Making a Murderer follows the story of Steven Avery and his nephew Brendan Dassey, who were both accused and convicted of murder in 2005.

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In 1985, Wisconsin resident Avery was convicted of rape and spent 18 years in prison until he was exonerated because of DNA evidence. In 2005, two years after his release from prison, he was charged for murdering a photographer named Teresa Halbach. Avery's nephew, Brendan Dassey, was also charged in the murder.

Laura Ricciardi and Moira Demos said they made the documentary because they wanted to show what the process of justice looks like in this case.

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Colbert mentioned how, "People are debating all over the United States after watching the documentary if [Avery's] guilty." Then he flat-out asked:

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Ricciardi responded first. "My personal opinion is that the state did not meet its burden either in Steven Avery's case or Brendan Dassey's case," she said.

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And Demos said she agrees with Ricciardi because she doesn't think Avery is guilty "beyond a reasonable doubt."

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Overall, the filmmakers said they "feel like there are no winners here."

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“What we hope to achieve by sharing this story with as many people as we can is to engage Americans and get people to feel responsibility and understand their own agency here," Ricciardi said.

"For instance, if we see someone in a perp walk on television, we can check ourselves and reserve judgment about that person, because at that point that person stands accused, has not been proven guilty.”