Adnan Syed, whose murder case gained international attention through the “Serial” podcast, will remain free despite his murder conviction being upheld, as ruled by Baltimore Judge Jennifer Schiffer on Thursday.
Schiffer’s ruling reduces Syed’s sentence to time served, implementing a recent Maryland law that provides a pathway to release for individuals convicted of crimes committed as minors. The decision places Syed, now 43, on supervised probation for five years.
“After considering the entire record, the court concludes that the Defendant is not a danger to the public and that the interests of justice will be better served by a reduced sentence,” Schiffer wrote in her decision.
Syed was convicted of the murder of his high school classmate and former girlfriend Hae Min Lee, 18, who was found strangled and buried in a Baltimore park. He has consistently maintained his innocence throughout his 23-year incarceration and release from prison in 2022.
The ruling follows a hearing last week that included testimony from both Syed and Lee’s family members. While prosecutors and defense attorneys agreed that Syed posed no risk to public safety, Lee’s relatives urged the judge to uphold his life sentence.
Since his release from prison in 2022, Syed has been working at Georgetown University’s Prisons and Justice Initiative and caring for aging family members.
The judge noted that Syed’s post-release behavior demonstrated his “maturity and fitness required for a crime-free life outside of prison.”
Erica Suter, Syed’s attorney, said he was grateful for the judge’s decision. “Given his accomplishments in prison and his work in the community since release, he was a model candidate for a sentence reduction,” Suter stated.
David Sanford, an attorney representing Lee’s family, criticized the decision.
“We now know there was never any new information that called into question Adnan Syed’s guilty verdict,” he said. He noted that Syed remains convicted of first-degree premeditated murder.
The case has undergone several twists and turns, including Syed’s release from prison in 2022 when Baltimore prosecutors found issues with the case and moved to vacate his conviction. This decision was later overturned on appeal, leading to the reinstatement of Syed’s conviction.
Ivan Bates, the current Baltimore state’s attorney, has stated that his office believes in the jury’s verdict and has no plans to continue investigating the case. Bates withdrew his predecessor’s motion to vacate the conviction while supporting a reduced sentence.
“I hope the Lee family can find peace and healing in the aftermath of this challenging experience,” Bates said in a statement. “My office is here to support them whenever they may need it.”
The judge acknowledged the enduring impact of the case on Lee’s family, particularly in light of Syed’s increased notoriety following the release of “Serial” in 2014 and a subsequent television documentary. “I hope that everyone understands that Hae Min Lee and her family are the true victims in this case,” she said. “Their suffering cannot be overstated.”
