Baltimore officers stated Wednesday that they've filed a movement to vacate the conviction of Adnan Syed, the topic of the favored podcast "Serial" who was convicted in February 2000 for killing his ex-girlfriend. Officers on Wednesday requested one other trial and stated new proof — together with the existence of two potential different suspects — casts doubt on Syed's prior conviction.
Syed was discovered responsible in 1999 of killing 17-year-old Hae Min Lee and was sentenced to life in jail plus 30 years.
"Because the inception of my administration, my prosecutors have been sworn to not solely aggressively advocate on behalf of the victims of crime, however within the pursuit of justice, — when the proof exists— to right the wrongs of the previous the place doubt is obvious," Baltimore Metropolis State's Legal professional Marilyn Mosby stated in an announcement asserting the choice.
"For that motive, after a virtually year-long investigation reviewing the information of this case, Syed deserves a brand new trial the place he's adequately represented and the newest proof could be offered," Mosby added.
Mosby and Sentencing Evaluation Unit Chief Becky Feldman stated within the assertion that the choice is the results of a virtually year-long investigation that exposed beforehand undisclosed details about two potential alternate suspects and highlighted the unreliability of cellular phone tower information that had been utilized in his unique trial.
One of many potential suspects allegedly stated that "he would make her [Ms. Lee] disappear. He would kill her," based on the assertion. The opposite individual "relayed info that may be seen as a motive for that very same suspect to hurt the sufferer," the assertion added.
The assertion additionally stated Lee's automobile was positioned "immediately behind the home of one of many suspect's members of the family." Neither of the potential suspects had been named.
"This details about the risk and motives to hurt may have supplied a foundation for the protection and was not disclosed to the trial nor the post-conviction protection counsel," the assertion stated.
The assertion emphasised that this doesn't imply prosecutors have decided that Syed is harmless — however stated that "contemplating the totality of the circumstances, the State lacks confidence within the integrity of the conviction."
This can be a growing story. It will likely be up to date.