Maryland Supreme Court justices heard pivotal arguments that could determine Adnan Syed's freedom.
BALTIMORE -- Maryland Supreme Court justices heard pivotal arguments that could determine Adnan Syed's freedom.
Last year, a judge threw out Syed's conviction in the murder of his former girlfriend at Woodlawn High School more than two decades ago, but the victim's brother successfully appealed.
WJZ Investigator Mike Hellgren reports justices presided over oral arguments Thursday, but they will not make a ruling right away.
Syed walked into the Maryland Supreme Court holding his mother's hand with his freedom on the line again more than one year after his release for the murder of Hae Min Lee.
"We're grateful for all the support we've received over the past 24 years," he told Hellgren.
Syed spent more than half his life behind bars after being arrested in 1999 for killing Lee, his classmate who was strangled and dumped in Baltimore's Leakin Park.
Last year, a judge released him after city prosecutors successfully argued evidence about other suspects was never disclosed to the defense.
Later, results of new DNA testing on crime scene evidence did not match Syed.
But Lee's brother Young Lee appealed and argued he did not receive appropriate notice of the hearing and the judge prevented him from speaking in person.
And he won: An appellate court reinstated Syed's conviction.
Now, Supreme Court justices must decide whether that was the right call.
Lee stood with his attorneys Thursday but declined comment and let them do the talking.
"We do not take a position with respect to Adnan Syed's underlying guilt or innocence. That's not what today was about," said David Sanford, an attorney for the Lee family.
He said the case centers on victims' rights, and Lee wants Syed's conviction to stand.
Lee's brother is also asking for a new hearing—with his full participation—to decide once and for all if Syed should be released permanently.
"This is an ongoing, living memory to Hae. Justice should be served in this case. There has been a terrible injustice here with respect to Hae, principally. There may be another injustice with respect to Adnan Syed. That remains to be seen," Sanford said. "…If there is sufficient evidence here to show that the verdict in this question should be called into question, Young Lee and we would be the first ones to acknowledge that and say that Adnan Syed should be set free but that hasn't happened yet, and what we're simply asking for is that the state present that evidence."
Doug Colbert represented Syed at his first bail review more than two decades ago.
"I've always believed in Adnan's innocence. I've always believed this was one of the greatest miscarriages of justice in our state, and to think that he has to go through another round in which he's placing his freedom in jeopardy, it just boggles the mind," said Colbert, now a professor at the University of Maryland Carey School of Law.
Last month, Syed held a lengthy news conference alleging prosecutorial misconduct and other wrongdoing in his case.
Syed and his attorneys say they will keep fighting.
"It is Adnan whose liberty is at stake," said Erica Suter, an attorney for Syed who directs The Innocence Project at the University of Baltimore School of Law. "The death of Hae Min Lee and the loss suffered by her family is unquestionably tragic. So too is the incalculable loss that Adnan and his family have suffered when he spent more than half his life in prison for a crime he did not commit."
While the case has gained worldwide attention through the Serial podcast, for Syed, it is personal.
"We believe very strongly in trying to find justice for Hae and her family, and we just hope also that we're able to find justice for us too," he said before leaving the courthouse.
Colbert said the Maryland's Supreme Court's decision could have a profound impact.
"This is a situation that could fundamentally change our whole criminal justice system, and I only hope that justice will prevail and that Adnan will remain free," he said.
A representative for Maryland's attorney general told justices today they believe Young Lee's rights were violated in the case.
WJZ investigator Mike Hellgren has a 30-minute special featuring in-depth reporting, a look into the WJZ archives, and a complete history of this high-profile case.
You can read more about the case and read the documents here.
