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2mo ago

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 departs the Baltimore City Circuit Courthouse in Baltimore, Maryland after a judge overturned his 2000 murder conviction and ordered a new trial, on September 19, 2022.
Adnan Syed arrives at the Clarence Mitchell Courthouse with his attorneys, family, and supporters for a hearing on his Motion for Reduction of Sentence under Maryland’s Juvenile Restoration Act in the case of State of Maryland v. Adnan Syed. (Kevin Richardson/Staff)
Adnan Syed arrives with his mother, Shamim Syed, family and friends for a court hearing in Annapolis on Thursday.

Overview

  • 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.