Adnan Syed's Murder Conviction Reinstated as Judge Considers Sentence Reduction

Baltimore prosecutors retract motion to vacate conviction, citing inaccuracies, but support reducing Syed's life sentence under juvenile sentencing reform.

Adnan Syed's 1999 murder conviction for the death of Hae Min Lee has been reinstated after Baltimore prosecutors withdrew a previous motion to vacate it, citing false and misleading statements in the original filing.
Prosecutors are supporting Syed's request for a sentence reduction under Maryland’s Juvenile Restoration Act, which allows those convicted as minors to seek reduced sentences after serving 20 years.
Syed, who has been free since 2022, has maintained his innocence and has been working at Georgetown University while caring for aging family members.
The victim's family opposes the sentence reduction, expressing frustration over the legal process and emphasizing their belief in the original evidence and conviction.
Judge Jennifer Schiffer is expected to rule soon on whether Syed's life sentence will be reduced to time served, weighing his rehabilitation against the family's objections and the nature of the crime.