Adnan Syed Remains Free After Sentence Reduction in High-Profile Murder Case
A Baltimore judge grants Adnan Syed a reduced sentence to time served, allowing him to stay free despite his murder conviction standing.
Overview
Adnan Syed will remain free after a Baltimore judge reduced his sentence to time served, citing Maryland's Juvenile Restoration Act. Although his murder conviction remains, the judge determined he poses no threat to public safety. Emotional testimonies from Syed and Hae Min Lee's family filled the courtroom. Lee's family continues to assert Syed's guilt. Syed was initially convicted in 2000 for the 1999 murder of Lee, a case that gained international attention through the podcast 'Serial'. With a new sentence including five years of supervised probation, Syed expresses gratitude and commitment to rehabilitation.
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Adnan Syed's original conviction was vacated in 2022 after additional DNA tests were conducted by former Baltimore State's Attorney Marilyn Mosby. The tests revealed trace levels of male DNA under Lee's fingernails and on her shirt, and new evidence pointed to two unnamed suspects. However, the conviction was later reinstated.
The judge reduced Syed's sentence because she determined he was not a danger to public safety. She considered his institutional history and his behavior since his release from prison, concluding that returning him to prison would be unproductive and unfair.
Hae Min Lee's family opposes Syed's reduced sentence and continues to assert his guilt. They expressed disappointment and hope that Syed would take responsibility for his actions.
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