Serial Case: Adnan Syed Argues For New Trial
BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- It was crime reporting that went viral. Now the Serial podcast about the murder of a Baltimore teen and the conviction of her ex-boyfriend is playing out in court.
Alex DeMetrick reports on the case of Adnan Syed.
Adnan Syed was in a Baltimore courtroom 16 years ago, where he was found guilty of murdering his ex-girlfriend, 17-year-old Hae Min Lee. Now 35, he is back in court.
"He looks good. He looks well. I know he's ready. We're all ready," said family friend Rabia Chaudrey.
"The public that was here was due to the podcast that Sarah Koenig has launched and that raised a lot of awareness in this," said hearing spectator Adeel Chohan.
The Serial podcast of Syed's conviction gripped millions last year. It's an audio investigation by former Baltimore Sun reporter Sarah Koenig.
"Before we get to today's episode, I'm going to let Adnan talk for a while. I want to run by you some of the information I've learned in the past week," Koenig said in one podcast.
Information that's prompted a hearing into whether Syed should get a re-trial. The defense strategy: Syed's lawyer, Christina Gutierrez, was impaired during the murder trial and the single most important piece of evidence fell through the cracks: an alibi placing Syed in the school library the day of the murder.
"I'm hopeful for sure. I think the defense attorney is doing a great job," said family friend Somia Asalo.
The prosecution's strategy: Gutierrez worked hard to defend Syed and the alibi not used was a tactical decision, not an oversight. They say Syed was convicted because he did it, using his bare hands to strangle Hae Min Lee.
While the two strategies play out, the Syed family wants only one outcome:
"We're hoping Adnan will be home soon with us. That's all," said one relative.
The hearing is scheduled to last three days. The most the judge can find in Syed's favor is enough evidence to have him re-tried for murder.