Maryland prosecutors on Wednesday sought to vacate the homicide conviction of a person whose case was made well-known by the “Serial” podcast, saying they lack “confidence within the integrity of the” verdict.
Adnan Syed was tried and convicted of killing ex-girlfriend Hae Min Lee and sentenced to life behind bars earlier than the favored podcast in 2014 raised questions on his guilt.
“To be clear, the State shouldn’t be asserting, presently, that Mr. Syed is harmless,” in keeping with an announcement by the Baltimore Metropolis State’s Lawyer’s Workplace.
“Whereas the investigation stays ongoing, when contemplating the totality of the circumstances, the State lacks confidence within the integrity of the conviction and requests that Mr. Syed be afforded a brand new trial.”
Lee, 18, vanished in early 1999 earlier than her physique was discovered weeks later in Leakin Park. She had been strangled. Syed, 18 on the time of the killing and 41 now, was ultimately accused.
His first trial resulted in mistrial earlier than prosecutors gained conviction in a second trial.
Prosecutors stated they now query “unreliable cellphone tower knowledge” and wish to have a look at “two different suspects.”
“For that purpose, after an almost yearlong investigation reviewing the details of this case, Syed deserves a brand new trial the place he’s adequately represented and the most recent proof could be offered,” State’s Lawyer Marilyn Mosby stated in an announcement.
“As stewards of the court docket, we’re obligated to uphold confidence within the integrity of convictions and do our half to appropriate when this normal has been comprised. We now have spoken with the household of Ms. Hae Min Lee and totally perceive that the individual answerable for this heinous crime have to be held accountable.”
Reps for Lee’s household couldn’t be instantly reached for touch upon Wednesday.
A circuit court docket decide in 2016 overturned Syed’s conviction earlier than the Maryland’s highest court docket in 2019 reinstated it.
