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Adnan Syed, whose murder conviction gained worldwide attention through the hit true-crime podcast Serial, will not have to serve any additional jail time after being resentenced in the 1999 killing of his ex-girlfriend, Hae Min Lee.
A Baltimore judge ruled that Syed “is not a danger to the public” and that “the interests of justice will be better served by a reduced sentence”
Case Background
Syed was convicted in 2000 for the murder of Lee, his high school classmate, and sentenced to life in prison. Prosecutors argued that he had killed her out of jealousy after their breakup. Lee’s body was discovered in a wooded area three weeks after she went missing in January 1999.
The case gained national and international attention in 2014 when Serial re-examined the evidence against Syed, raising doubts about the prosecution’s case and the effectiveness of his defense attorney.
The podcast’s popularity helped fuel a movement advocating for Syed’s release, with supporters donating over $80,000 to his legal fund.
Legal Developments
In 2022, Syed was exonerated after prosecutors determined he had been wrongfully convicted. However, in 2023, an appeals court reinstated his conviction, citing procedural errors—specifically, that the victim’s brother had not been given sufficient notice before the hearing that led to Syed’s release.
Despite the reinstatement of his conviction, Tuesday’s ruling by Baltimore City Circuit Judge Jennifer Schiffer ensures that Syed, now 43, will not return to prison.
His resentencing was granted under a Maryland law that allows for sentence reductions for individuals convicted as minors who have served over 20 years in prison.
Syed has remained free since 2022, and this latest ruling solidifies his release while keeping his conviction intact.
Gill Bikram Singh