Judge: Adnan Syed can introduce new evidence in "Serial" case
BALTIMORE -- Post-conviction proceedings will be re-opened for Adnan Syed, the convicted killer at the center of the popular "Serial" podcast, a judge ruled Friday.
Syed was convicted in 2000 in the January 1999 murder of his ex-girlfriend Hae Min Lee in Maryland. He is serving a life sentence. "Serial" raised new questions about the case and stoked national and international debate about whether Syed's conviction was sound.
A Baltimore City Circuit Court judge said Friday that Syed can introduce new evidence at a post-conviction hearing, including testimony from a possible alibi witness, and documents that his lawyer says calls into question the cell phone location data used by the prosecution at his trial. The alibi witness claims she saw Syed at a library near school on the day prosecutors say Syed killed Lee, but was never interviewed by his defense attorney.
The ruling said the introduction of the new evidence will allow for a "full and complete" record for an appelate court to consider Syed's appeal and weigh whether or not he should receive a new trial.
Syed has maintained his innocence. The post-conviction hearing date has yet to be determined.