US Supreme Court denies new trial for Adnan Syed, subject of the 'Serial' podcast

Adnan Syed

The long trial and tribulations for Adnan Syed appears to have run its course as the US Supreme Court Monday (Nov. 25) rejected his bid for a new trial spurred by information uncovered by the hit podcast "Serial."

The justices left in place without commenting the ruling by Maryland's highest court that denied a new trial for Syed, who was convicted of murdering classmate and ex-girlfriend Hae Min Lee. 

Syed was found guilty in 2000 for killing 17-year old Lee and burying her body in a Baltimore park.  He was sentenced to a life term.

Syed’s lawyers had argued that his trial lawyer’s failure to investigate an alibi witness violated his right to competent legal representation.

"Two courts have said he deserves a new trial, and then Maryland's highest court reversed that. We think it's appalling," Brown told NPR. "We think this is a grave injustice. The way this has played out is sickening."

“We are deeply disappointed by the Supreme Court but by no means is this the end of Adnan Syed,” defense attorney C. Justin Brown told The Associated Press. “There are other legal options and we are exploring each and every one of them.”

Syed's case attracted an international following when it was featured in NPR's 12-part podcast in 2014. His case seemed to have a breakthrough in 2016 when a Maryland court ordered a new trial, citing an alibi witness that was never explored by Syed's defense attorney. The Maryland Court of Special Appeals agreed with the lower court.

However, in 2018, the Maryland Court of Appeals denied Syed a new trial.
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