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TWITTER Ahmed Syed, center, greets his supporters after being released. |
After 23 years behind bars, Adnan Syed has been released after a Baltimore judge overturned his 1999 murder conviction.
A jury found Syed guilty of killing his girlfriend, Hae Min Lin, when they were in high school. He was sentenced to life plus 30 years.
The case gained national notoriety through a wildly popular podcast, "Serial," that began raising questions about the evidence in 2014. He has maintained he was innocent for the past two decades.
Circuit Court Judge Melissa Phinn ordered that Syed’s conviction be vacated Monday, saying the prosecution violated its legal obligation to share evidence that could have bolstered Syed’s defense. She ordered Syed to be placed on home detention with GPS location monitoring. The judge also said the state must decide whether to seek a new trial date or dismiss the case within 30 days.
Circuit Court Judge Melissa Phinn ordered that Syed’s conviction be vacated Monday, saying the prosecution violated its legal obligation to share evidence that could have bolstered Syed’s defense. She ordered Syed to be placed on home detention with GPS location monitoring. The judge also said the state must decide whether to seek a new trial date or dismiss the case within 30 days.
The new findings reportedly raises the possibiity that the state may have the wrong suspect.
The crowded courtroom broke out in applause as the judge announced her decision. Syed remained quiet while the judge spoke.
The crowded courtroom broke out in applause as the judge announced her decision. Syed remained quiet while the judge spoke.
He joined his family and cheering supporters outside the courtroom. Syed will remain at home with electronic monitoring as the state ponders if prosecutors will initiate a new trial. The state has 30 days to make their decision.
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