Judge Reduces Adnan Syed's Sentence to Time Served in 1999 Murder Case

Syed, convicted of killing Hae Min Lee, will remain free under Maryland's Juvenile Restoration Act despite his conviction being reinstated.

A Baltimore judge ruled that Adnan Syed, convicted in 2000 for the murder of Hae Min Lee, will remain free after reducing his sentence to time served under Maryland's Juvenile Restoration Act.
The decision follows Syed's release in 2022 when his conviction was vacated, though it was later reinstated on procedural grounds by the Maryland Supreme Court.
Judge Jennifer Schiffer stated that Syed does not pose a danger to the public and that justice is better served by the sentence reduction, which includes five years of supervised probation.
The ruling sidestepped questions of Syed's guilt or innocence, with the Baltimore State's Attorney supporting the reduced sentence while maintaining belief in the jury's original verdict.
Hae Min Lee's family opposed the decision, expressing emotional pain and frustration over the protracted legal battle and media attention surrounding the case.