Making a Murderer subject Steven Avery denied a new trial

Avery's lawyer Kathleen Zellner remains optimistic about the case

Steven Avery — the subject of controversial Netflix documentary Making a Murderer — has been denied a new trial over the murder of Teresa Halbach.

Despite Avery’s new lawyer Kathleen Zellner being confident of the defendants innocence, using Twitter on numerous occasions to update the public on the case, the judge said there was insufficient evidence to warrant another trial.

“The defendant has failed to establish any grounds that would trigger the right to a new trial in the interests of justice,” ruled Sheboygan County, Wisconsin, Judge Angela Sutkiewicz.

"As such, no further consideration will be given to this issue.”

Zellner added in a statement to ABC News following the ruling: "We are filing an amended petition because we have additional test results and witness affidavits.

"The scientific testing is not completed. We remain optimistic that Mr Avery's conviction will be vacated.”

The ruling on Brendan Dassey, who was also convicted of the murder, was recently overturned, although the case will appear in an appeals court.

Dassey and Avery were originally convicted of murder on 31 October 2005. Over ten years later, the case was once again in the spotlight thanks to Making a Murderer, released on the 18 December 2015. A second season from directors/writers Laura Ricciardi and Moira Demos is currently in the works.