BY BTL STAFF
An evening of conversation with two of the most compelling figures featured in the Netflix documentary "Making a Murderer" comes to Royal Oak this weekend. Attorneys Dean Strang and Jerry Buting will participate in a moderated discussion regarding the operations of the criminal justice system, as well as the broader implications of the Steven Avery case. Katrease Stafford, a breaking news reporter for the Detroit Free Press, hosts.
"Making a Murderer" is a 10-part Netflix documentary that premiered Dec. 18, 2015. The show quickly found word-of-mouth popularity amongst the media-streaming platform's audience. Written and directed by Laura Ricciardi and Moira Demos, the show discusses the story of Steven Avery, a Manitowoc County, Wisconsin man who served 18 years in prison for sexual assault and attempted murdered but was then exonerated in 2003. He was shortly after arrested in connection with the murder of Teresa Halbach and convicted in 2007. The series, filmed over 10 years, was the first Netflix creation to be released both on Netflix streaming and on YouTube.
Strang, one of the attorneys appearing at the Royal Oak Music Theatre for the evening, was one of Avery's attorneys for the Halbach trial. He's stated in the past that the filmmakers for the documentary "did a good editorial job." The Huffington Post said in January, "Strang noted that the trial went for six weeks and featured approximately 200 to 240 hours of evidence. Strang took the position that showing the full trial would be too long for audiences and that only the most significant points on both sides could be shown."
Buting, another defense lawyer for Avery, publicly spoke out later than Strang, but has commented on Avery not seeing the documentary. "He has not seen it himself – but he's certainly aware of it. I saw him shortly before it aired in mid-December and I know his family is probably overwhelmed as well with the kind of response that occurred," he told Fox 6 Now in Manitowoc County earlier this year.
Both lawyers have attracted a fan following, especially in light of the pro-Avery light of the documentary that has resulted in thousands of signatures on petitions trying to release the man. Buting told Fox 6 Now of the almost comically over-the-top fanfare for him and Strang: "It's silly really. But I'm surprised at any of the crush type of interest. Just to give you an idea, before this started, I had eight people on my Twitter following me. I've got 25,000 now."
The evening is presented by the Detroit Free Press and the Freep Film Festival.
Two shows will be held on Saturday, March 19 at the Royal Oak Music Theatre, 318 W. Fourth St., Royal Oak. Tickets start at $55. The shows are for 18 and over. As of press time, the 5 p.m. show still has space and the 8 p.m. show has sold out.
