Judge Orders Release of 'Serial' Subject Adnan Syed

A judge on Monday overturned the 2000 murder conviction of 'Serial' subject Adnan Syed and ordered his release, the Associated Press reports.

Officials escort "Serial" podcast subject Adnan Syed from the courthouse
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Officials escort "Serial" podcast subject Adnan Syed from the courthouse on Feb. 3, 2016, following the completion of the first day of hearings for a retrial in Baltimore, Md. (Karl Merton Ferron/Baltimore Sun/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)

Officials escort "Serial" podcast subject Adnan Syed from the courthouse

Baltimore Circuit Judge Melissa Phinn has overturned the 2000 murder conviction of Adnan Syed and ordered his release, according to the Associated Press and Baltimore Sun.

Syed, now 41, was convicted of first-degree murder in the killing of his 18-year-old ex-girlfriend Hae Min Lee and was later the subject of the popular true crime podcast Serial.

Just last week, Baltimore prosecutors filed a motion requesting that Syed’s conviction be vacated.

“The motion filed today supports a new trial for Syed based on a nearly year-long investigation that revealed undisclosed and newly-developed information regarding two alternative suspects, as well as unreliable cell phone tower data,” State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby’s office said at the time.

The statement continued, “We believe that keeping Mr. Syed detained as we continue to investigate the case with everything that we know now, when we do not have confidence in results of the first trial, would be unjust.”

Syed, who was 17 years old in 1999 when he was arrested in connection with the murder of Lee, was eventually sentenced to life. He has maintained his innocence over the years.

“All right Mr. Syed, you’re free to join your family,” Phinn said when the hearing ended, according to AP.

The state now has 30 days to decide if the case will be dismissed or a new trial will be scheduled. 

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