Making A Murderer's Brendan Dassey suffers a difficult blow.

Just as freedom appeared imminent for Making A Murderer‘s Brendan Dassey, the nephew of Stephen Avery has had his release blocked in the federal appeals court.

It’s the latest development in a three year battle to free the 27-year-old who was jailed for being party to first-degree murder, mutilation of a corpse and second-degree sexual assault of local photographer, Teresa Halbach, in 2005.

“We are disappointed more than words can say,”  a statement from the Center on Wrongful Conviction of Youth, the legal centre representing Dassey read.

“The fight goes on.”

TV crews and reporters were already staking out the Portage prison were Dassey is being held, waiting for him to walk out, when the ruling was announced.

It’s been nine years since Dassey was sentenced to life in prison for Halbach’s death after confessing to helping his uncle rape and kill her when he was just 16.

Both Dassey and Avery contend they were framed by police, with their cases gaining worldwide attention after featuring in the in the Netflix documentary series, which aired last year.

In the order issued on Monday numerous conditions were imposed on Dassey possible release, but if and when it comes, remains to be unseen.