BALTIMORE, MD—Adnan Syed, whose case became internationally known through the podcast “Serial,” will be released from prison after a Baltimore judge ruled Thursday to reduce his sentence to time served. Syed, who has maintained his innocence, was convicted in 1999 for the murder of Hae Min Lee.
Baltimore Judge Jennifer Schiffer agreed to release Syed under a state law that allows for the release of individuals convicted of crimes committed when they were minors, according to the Associated Press. Syed was 17 when Lee was killed. He will be on supervised probation for five years.
The judge stated that Syed does not pose a danger to the public and that justice would be better served by a reduced sentence. This decision comes after a hearing last week where both prosecutors and defense attorneys agreed that Syed, now 43, does not pose a risk to public safety. Meanwhile, Lee’s brother and mother urged the judge to maintain Lee’s life sentence.
The judge’s ruling stated Syed’s behavior after release demonstrated the maturity and fitness for a crime-free life outside of prison.
Syed was released from prison in 2022 after Baltimore prosecutors found issues with the case and moved to overturn his conviction. However, this conviction was later reinstated on appeal. Since his release, Syed has worked at Georgetown University’s Prisons and Justice Initiative and cared for family members.
Erica Suter, an attorney who represented Syed, expressed relief at the judge’s decision, stating that Syed was grateful for the reduced sentence. Suter emphasized Syed’s accomplishments in prison and his community work since his release, highlighting him as a model candidate for sentence reduction.
David Sanford, an attorney for Lee’s family, stated in a post-ruling statement that the state admitted to presenting false and misleading information in support of releasing Syed during Marilyn Mosby’s tenure as Baltimore State’s Attorney. Sanford emphasized that Syed remains convicted of first-degree premeditated murder due to overwhelming evidence.
The current Baltimore State’s Attorney, Ivan Bates, stated that his office believes in the jury’s verdict and has no plans to continue investigating the case. Bates withdrew Mosby’s earlier motion to vacate the conviction but supported a reduced sentence.
Judge Schiffer acknowledged the impact of Lee’s death and Syed’s 23-year incarceration in her remarks, emphasizing the suffering of the Lee family. She expressed hope that the Lee family can find peace and healing after this challenging experience.
This article was written with the assistance of AI and reviewed by a human editor.
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