Adnan Syed's Case: From Murder Conviction to Freedom
Adnan Syed, the subject of the podcast Serial, was freed from prison after a judge vacated his 2000 murder conviction.
The Disappearance of Hae Min Lee
In 1999, Syed was a student at Woodlawn High School in Baltimore when his ex-girlfriend Hae Min Lee vanished. Her half-buried body was found a month later in a nearby city park. She was a Korean-American and was 18 at the time of her death.
The Media Sensation
A popular student, active in his mosque, and part of a sports team, Syed was thought to have committed the crime in a jealous rage. His case became a media sensation and spawned a number of books, films, and even an award-winning podcast that sparked debate about his innocence and the role of religion in crime.
Conviction and the Serial Podcast
He was convicted of her murder and sentenced to life in prison. It was a case that caught the attention of radio personality and journalist Sarah Koenig, who launched the podcast "Serial" and catapulted Syed into the public eye.
The podcast brought Syed's case to a worldwide audience and opened up the door for other journalists and sleuths to investigate his case. Koenig's investigative work drew attention to several alleged flaws in the prosecution's case, and soon Syed's friends and supporters – including Rabia Chaudry, a family friend who believed Syed to be innocent – started discussing the case online.
A Key Alibi Witness
Syed's case gained a new lease on life when his appeals lawyers argued that the original defense team failed to call a key alibi witness. McClain, a student in Syed's class, testified that she saw him in the library at the time of the murder. Her testimony was important because it would have placed Syed miles away from the scene of the crime, a crucial factor in the trial.
According to an opinion written by Chief Judge Patrick L. Woodward in March, Chapman's testimony could have changed the outcome of the trial.
New Evidence and a New Trial
The ruling prompted a number of changes in the state's case, including the use of a DNA sample from a woman who was arrested in connection with the murder but did not testify at the trial. The new evidence was said to have led to a renewed investigation and the dismissal of two alternate suspects.
"In light of the recent discovery and the judicial decision to vacate Syed's conviction, we feel it is our duty to inform the public of the facts that have come to light," wrote Syed's new lawyer, Jennifer Gutierrez, in a statement provided by the court.
Overturned Conviction and Potential New Trial
On Monday, a judge in Maryland overturned Syed's 2000 conviction and ordered a new trial. The judge ruled that prosecutors had made a compelling argument that Syed's conviction was flawed.
A panel of experts, including a former federal prosecutor and a psychologist who has worked with Syed, will consider whether the new evidence supports the case. The panel will also be asked to comment on whether Syed's conviction was unfounded and if there were any errors in the way prosecutors handled the case.
