Adnan Syed freed after judge vacates murder conviction

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Maryland appeals court upholds decision overturning ‘Serial’ subject Adnan Syed’s murder conviction
Officials escort Serial podcast topic Adnan Syed from the courthouse on Feb. third, 2016, following the completion of the primary day of hearings for a retrial in Baltimore.  | Photo by Karl Merton Ferron / Baltimore Sun / Tribune News Service through Getty Images

Adnan Syed was set free on Monday after greater than 20 years in jail for being convicted of the murder of his ex-girlfriend, Hae Min Lee, in a case that spawned intense curiosity after it was documented within the podcast Serial. The New York Times reports Judge Melissa M. Phinn of Baltimore City Circuit overturned Adnan Syed’s murder conviction after prosecutors filed paperwork questioning the trial and the proof introduced, without saying that they consider he’s harmless.

According to the Sun, prosecutors mentioned the state has identified since 1999 of two “different suspects” who could also be responsible of the crime, who weren’t disclosed to his protection and embody an unnamed serial rapist who has since been convicted of a number of assaults. The prosecutors additionally mentioned one of many suspects had threatened Lee previous to her murder, saying they “would make her disappear.”

The Times reviews the prosecutor’s investigation revealed Ms. Lee’s automobile was found straight behind a house owned by a member of the family of one of many suspects. It additionally mentioned prosecutors questioned the cellphone information used to position Syed close to the location of Lee’s burial, because the billing location for incoming calls wouldn’t be thought-about dependable data.

According to the Baltimore Sun, the judge ordered Syed unshackled in court docket and to stay on GPS monitoring pending one other trial, whereas the prosecutors have 30 days to find out whether or not to attempt him once more or drop the costs. In her ruling, Phinn wrote, “the State has confirmed that there was a Brady violation,” referencing a 1963 Supreme Court decision that prosecutors are obligated to show over any proof to the protection that may very well be favorable to the accused.

After the podcast was accomplished, however previous to the discharge of an HBO documentary about the case,

The judge rejected a request to postpone the choice from a lawyer representing Lee’s household, who mentioned that they had not been given satisfactory discover of the choice.

The Serial podcast’s Twitter account tweeted that the unique host, Sarah Koenig, was on the courthouse at present and {that a} new episode can be launched on Tuesday.

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