DNA check outcomes led Baltimore prosecutors to drop charges against Adnan Syed.During a Zoom name with reporters Tuesday afternoon, Erica Suter, Syed’s public defender, stated, “(Syed) is elated, he is joyful, he is still processing this.”Syed, 41, who was launched in September after serving 23 years in jail for the killing of Hae Min Lee in 1999, had his conviction vacated by a Baltimore decide. It was discovered that prosecutors failed to inform Syed’s protection attorneys about proof that may have allowed him to defend himself, together with particulars that established two different individuals had threatened Lee’s life.Early Tuesday afternoon, Baltimore City State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby stated “justice over convictions” is the mantra of her workplace, and he or she apologized to each the Syed and Lee households.”Although my administration was not responsible for neither the pain inflicted upon Hae Min Lee’s family nor was my administration responsible for the wrongful conviction of Mr. Syed, as a representative of the institution, it is my responsibility to acknowledge and to apologize to the family of Hae Min Lee and Adnan Syed,” Mosby stated.The state had a 30-day interval to resolve to refile the case or to not prosecute. “Today, justice is done, and that means today, tomorrow and until my administration ends, we will continue to utilize every available resource to find who is responsible for the death of Hae Min Lee,” Mosby stated. “It is my duty to ensure that justice is not delayed, justice is never denied, but justice be done. Today, justice is done.”Mosby stated her workplace on Friday acquired the outcomes of contact DNA testing on gadgets that weren’t examined earlier than that included a skirt, pantyhose, sneakers and a jacket belonging to Lee. Mosby stated there was a DNA combination of a number of contributors on each sneakers and that Adnan Syed’s DNA was excluded.Last 12 months, prosecutors and Syed’s protection legal professional teamed up for an investigation that uncovered two attainable suspects within the case. Mosby declined to launch extra info Tuesday. “I think you can imagine, this has been, there has been so many ups and downs over the past 23 years. So, he is really just taking it all in. He is incredibly grateful for all of the people who have supported him and believed in him over the years,” Suter stated.Video beneath: Public defender’s information convention in its entiretyMosby stated that due to advances in DNA testing from when the case was initially tried, they have been ready to exclude Syed from the case, saying, “The case is over.””It’s actually touch DNA. It analyzes skin cells left behind on evidence at a crime scene and has been available since 2003, and this case started in 1999,” Mosby stated.”This is a clear indication that the state’s attorney’s office does not believe they can prove Adnan Syed is guilty, and in fact, they have said they believe this is evidence of his actual innocence and this is hugely significant,” stated Professor David Jaros, University of Baltimore Law School college director of the Center for Criminal Justice Reform.The public defender’s workplace confirmed that Syed is now off residence detention.”Today’s the day that Adnan Syed and his loved ones have been waiting for 23 long years. The results of the DNA testing excluded Adnan and confirm what Adnan and his supporters have always known: That Adnan Syed is innocent. The state of Maryland has dropped the charges. Adnan Syed is free,” stated Suter, assistant public defender and director of the Innocence Project Clinic at University of Baltimore Law School.Mosby stated there are procedural steps to go earlier than the courts, together with a recertification course of, earlier than Syed will be thought-about “innocent” within the case. Certification will happen as quickly as attainable, Suter stated throughout a Tuesday afternoon information convention.Video beneath: State’s legal professional’s information convention in its entirety Syed household respondsAdnan Syed’s brother, Yusuf Syed, stated he was comfortable his brother can lastly have a life, they usually can all transfer on.”Now, my mom is happy, and I’m happy, too, that this is done,” Yusuf Syed stated. “Something Mrs. Mosby said in her press hearing that I appreciated a lot that not many people know is that she said, for 23 years, the family has been in prison. A lot of people, they don’t understand that it wasn’t just Adnan who was affected. We were all affected.”Yusuf Syed stated it was particularly laborious on his father to have his brother in jail.”He was really depressed because him and Adnan were very close. Adnan was his favorite child, so to lose Adnan. that really destroyed him a lot,” Yusuf Syed stated.Lee household legal professional respondsThere was no public discover of the newest courtroom listening to within the Adnan Syed case as a result of prosecutors in Baltimore City are allowed to seem at any time with out discover to nolle prosequi. Court officers stated the courtroom acquired an e mail Friday from the prosecutor, indicating that they wished to name the Adnan Syed matter Tuesday morning.An enchantment introduced by the Lee household within the Court of Special Appeals stays pending. The courtroom has not dismissed the enchantment as of Tuesday.Mosby stated she e-mailed Lee household legal professional Steve Kelly on Monday morning and stated her workplace tried to await affirmation of discover earlier than releasing something publicly however have since not heard again from the legal professional.Steve Kelly launched an announcement later Tuesday afternoon, saying: “We are representing Hae Min Lee’s family on a pro bono basis to enforce their rights as Maryland crime victims. The family’s goal is simply to understand the reasons for the state’s sudden reversal of its position and to have a voice on that issue. Both the family and the public deserve answers that the state has failed to provide.”After 23 years of getting Hae’s homicide dredged up repeatedly, the household deserves greater than an e-mail despatched to their legal professional 4 minutes after information of as we speak’s dismissal broke within the media. Truly respecting sufferer’s voice within the course of requires excess of that.”Timeline of the caseLee and Adnan Syed were students at Woodlawn High School in Baltimore County. Lee was strangled, and her body was found buried in Leakin Park in Baltimore City. At the time, police believed Adnan Syed killed Lee because he was distraught over their breakup. His first trial ended in a mistrial. A jury convicted him in a second trial. Adnan Syed had been in jail since his arrest in February 1999. In 2000, a jury found Adnan Syed guilty of murder. Prosecutors relied heavily on cellphone data and the testimony of a friend of Adnan Syed’s, who said he helped him bury the body. In 2014, the podcast “Serial” debuted and raised doubts about the case, explaining that a girl, Asia McClain, said she was with Adnan Syed in the library at the time when police said Lee was killed.It was learned that Adnan Syed’s attorney knew about the potential alibi but did not call McClain to testify. That attorney was later disbarred after a series of complaints involving numerous cases.”With higher media consideration, it brings a lightweight to injustices which are commonplace. So, what has occurred to Adnan is tragic and horrible however it’s extremely widespread,” Suter said. “This type of violation shouldn’t be uncommon.”Between 2015 and 2019, there was much back-and-forth procedural developments in court. A judge granted Adnan Syed a new trial, and, after a series of appeals, the Maryland Court of Appeals denied the trial.In March 2022, prosecutors agreed to new DNA testing because of advances in genetic profiling.Last month, the Baltimore City State’s Attorney’s Office filed a motion to vacate the conviction, saying it uncovered the potential involvement of two “different suspects.” The motion also admits the case was ruled largely on circumstantial evidence, and prosecutors said they lacked confidence “within the integrity of the conviction.”What’s next for Adnan Syed?Adnan Syed is at home spending time with his family, and he’s asking for privacy as he processes Tuesday’s announcement and begins to heal.WBAL-TV spoke with his attorney, who said Adnan Syed is setting his sights on the future. Suter said this is the day he and his family have been waiting for. He is elated. He’s joyful, but with so many ups and downs over the past 23 years. Now, he’s just trying to take it all in.Suter said Adnan Syed is just spending time with his family doing the everyday little things, the freedoms many of us take for granted. She said Adnan Syed is incredibly grateful for all of the people who have supported him and believed in him over the years, including his brother, Yusuf Syed.”We’ve been ready to hug him to have him in our home to discuss to him to see him proper in entrance of us,” Yusuf Syed said.As for what’s next, Suter said Adnan Syed wants to continue his education at Georgetown University, something he started behind bars.”I do know that he is very dedicated. He was solely 17 when he was incarcerated. He was accepted to school. He was actually on the precipice of his younger life and I feel he needs to full that and earn his diploma,” Suter said.Once he’s earns that degree, Suter said Adnan Syed wants to go to law school. Suter also said, like all of us, Adnan Syed wants to know what happened to Lee and to see her true killer brought to justice.”Because Adnan is harmless and did not have any function on this, I feel he needs to know like the remainder of us what actually occurred,” Suter stated.When requested whether or not Adnan Syed would search compensation for his wrongful conviction, Suter stated that is a query for an additional day.
DNA check outcomes led Baltimore prosecutors to drop charges against Adnan Syed.
During a Zoom name with reporters Tuesday afternoon, Erica Suter, Syed’s public defender, stated, “(Syed) is elated, he is joyful, he is still processing this.”
Syed, 41, who was released in September after serving 23 years in jail for the killing of Hae Min Lee in 1999, had his conviction vacated by a Baltimore decide. It was discovered that prosecutors failed to inform Syed’s protection attorneys about proof that may have allowed him to defend himself, together with particulars that established two different individuals had threatened Lee’s life.
Early Tuesday afternoon, Baltimore City State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby stated “justice over convictions” is the mantra of her workplace, and he or she apologized to each the Syed and Lee households.
“Although my administration was not responsible for neither the pain inflicted upon Hae Min Lee’s family nor was my administration responsible for the wrongful conviction of Mr. Syed, as a representative of the institution, it is my responsibility to acknowledge and to apologize to the family of Hae Min Lee and Adnan Syed,” Mosby stated.
The state had a 30-day interval to resolve to refile the case or to not prosecute.
“Today, justice is done, and that means today, tomorrow and until my administration ends, we will continue to utilize every available resource to find who is responsible for the death of Hae Min Lee,” Mosby stated. “It is my duty to ensure that justice is not delayed, justice is never denied, but justice be done. Today, justice is done.”
Mosby stated her workplace on Friday acquired the outcomes of contact DNA testing on gadgets that weren’t examined earlier than that included a skirt, pantyhose, sneakers and a jacket belonging to Lee. Mosby stated there was a DNA combination of a number of contributors on each sneakers and that Adnan Syed’s DNA was excluded.
Last 12 months, prosecutors and Syed’s protection legal professional teamed up for an investigation that uncovered two attainable suspects within the case. Mosby declined to launch extra info Tuesday.
“I think you can imagine, this has been, there has been so many ups and downs over the past 23 years. So, he is really just taking it all in. He is incredibly grateful for all of the people who have supported him and believed in him over the years,” Suter stated.
Video beneath: Public defender’s information convention in its entirety
Mosby stated that due to advances in DNA testing from when the case was initially tried, they have been ready to exclude Syed from the case, saying, “The case is over.”
“It’s actually touch DNA. It analyzes skin cells left behind on evidence at a crime scene and has been available since 2003, and this case started in 1999,” Mosby stated.
“This is a clear indication that the state’s attorney’s office does not believe they can prove Adnan Syed is guilty, and in fact, they have said they believe this is evidence of his actual innocence and this is hugely significant,” stated Professor David Jaros, University of Baltimore Law School college director of the Center for Criminal Justice Reform.
The public defender’s workplace confirmed that Syed is now off residence detention.
“Today’s the day that Adnan Syed and his loved ones have been waiting for 23 long years. The results of the DNA testing excluded Adnan and confirm what Adnan and his supporters have always known: That Adnan Syed is innocent. The state of Maryland has dropped the charges. Adnan Syed is free,” stated Suter, assistant public defender and director of the Innocence Project Clinic at University of Baltimore Law School.
Mosby stated there are procedural steps to go earlier than the courts, together with a recertification course of, earlier than Syed will be thought-about “innocent” within the case. Certification will happen as quickly as attainable, Suter stated throughout a Tuesday afternoon information convention.
Video beneath: State’s legal professional’s information convention in its entirety
Syed household responds
Adnan Syed’s brother, Yusuf Syed, stated he was comfortable his brother can lastly have a life, they usually can all transfer on.
“Now, my mom is happy, and I’m happy, too, that this is done,” Yusuf Syed stated. “Something Mrs. Mosby said in her press hearing that I appreciated a lot that not many people know is that she said, for 23 years, the family has been in prison. A lot of people, they don’t understand that it wasn’t just Adnan who was affected. We were all affected.”
Yusuf Syed stated it was particularly laborious on his father to have his brother in jail.
“He was really depressed because him and Adnan were very close. Adnan was his favorite child, so to lose Adnan. that really destroyed him a lot,” Yusuf Syed stated.
Lee household legal professional responds
There was no public discover of the newest courtroom listening to within the Adnan Syed case as a result of prosecutors in Baltimore City are allowed to seem at any time with out discover to nolle prosequi. Court officers stated the courtroom acquired an e mail Friday from the prosecutor, indicating that they wished to name the Adnan Syed matter Tuesday morning.
An appeal brought by the Lee family within the Court of Special Appeals stays pending. The courtroom has not dismissed the enchantment as of Tuesday.
Mosby stated she e-mailed Lee household legal professional Steve Kelly on Monday morning and stated her workplace tried to await affirmation of discover earlier than releasing something publicly however have since not heard again from the legal professional.
Steve Kelly launched an announcement later Tuesday afternoon, saying: “We are representing Hae Min Lee’s family on a pro bono basis to enforce their rights as Maryland crime victims. The family’s goal is simply to understand the reasons for the state’s sudden reversal of its position and to have a voice on that issue. Both the family and the public deserve answers that the state has failed to provide.
“After 23 years of getting Hae’s homicide dredged up repeatedly, the household deserves greater than an e-mail despatched to their legal professional 4 minutes after information of as we speak’s dismissal broke within the media. Truly respecting sufferer’s voice within the course of requires excess of that.”
Timeline of the case
Lee and Adnan Syed have been college students at Woodlawn High School in Baltimore County. Lee was strangled, and her physique was discovered buried in Leakin Park in Baltimore City. At the time, police believed Adnan Syed killed Lee as a result of he was distraught over their breakup.
His first trial resulted in a mistrial. A jury convicted him in a second trial. Adnan Syed had been in jail since his arrest in February 1999. In 2000, a jury discovered Adnan Syed responsible of homicide. Prosecutors relied closely on cellphone knowledge and the testimony of a buddy of Adnan Syed’s, who stated he helped him bury the physique.
In 2014, the podcast “Serial” debuted and raised doubts in regards to the case, explaining {that a} woman, Asia McClain, stated she was with Adnan Syed within the library on the time when police stated Lee was killed.
It was realized that Adnan Syed’s legal professional knew in regards to the potential alibi however didn’t name McClain to testify. That legal professional was later disbarred after a collection of complaints involving quite a few instances.
“With greater media attention, it brings a light to injustices that are commonplace. So, what has happened to Adnan is tragic and horrible but it is incredibly common,” Suter stated. “This kind of violation is not unusual.”
Between 2015 and 2019, there was a lot back-and-forth procedural developments in courtroom. A decide granted Adnan Syed a brand new trial, and, after a collection of appeals, the Maryland Court of Appeals denied the trial.
In March 2022, prosecutors agreed to new DNA testing due to advances in genetic profiling.
Last month, the Baltimore City State’s Attorney’s Office filed a movement to vacate the conviction, saying it uncovered the potential involvement of two “different suspects.” The motion also admits the case was ruled largely on circumstantial evidence, and prosecutors said they lacked confidence “within the integrity of the conviction.”
What’s subsequent for Adnan Syed?
Adnan Syed is at residence spending time together with his household, and he is asking for privateness as he processes Tuesday’s announcement and begins to heal.
WBAL-TV spoke together with his legal professional, who stated Adnan Syed is setting his sights on the long run. Suter stated that is the day he and his household have been ready for. He is elated. He’s joyful, however with so many ups and downs over the previous 23 years. Now, he is simply attempting to take all of it in.
Suter stated Adnan Syed is simply spending time together with his household doing the on a regular basis little issues, the freedoms many people take as a right. She stated Adnan Syed is extremely grateful for the entire individuals who have supported him and believed in him over time, together with his brother, Yusuf Syed.
“We’ve been able to hug him to have him in our house to talk to him to see him right in front of us,” Yusuf Syed stated.
As for what’s subsequent, Suter stated Adnan Syed needs to proceed his schooling at Georgetown University, one thing he began behind bars.
“I know that he’s very committed. He was only 17 when he was incarcerated. He was accepted to college. He was really at the precipice of his young life and I think he wants to complete that and earn his degree,” Suter stated.
Once he is earns that diploma, Suter stated Adnan Syed needs to go to legislation college. Suter additionally stated, like all of us, Adnan Syed needs to know what occurred to Lee and to see her true killer introduced to justice.
“Because Adnan is innocent and didn’t have any role in this, I think he wants to know like the rest of us what really happened,” Suter stated.
When requested whether or not Adnan Syed would search compensation for his wrongful conviction, Suter stated that is a query for an additional day.
