The case of Adnan Syed, who served more than 20 years in prison on murder charges before his conviction was vacated on Monday, is unique because of the enormous publicity it garnered through the hit true-crime podcast Serial. But one of the reasons he was set free — because prosecutors withheld evidence that may have exonerated him — is not uncommon.
In making the decision to release Syed from prison, Circuit Judge Melissa Phinn in Baltimore relied on an extensive review of the case by prosecutors in Maryland showing, among other things, that authorities knew of at least two alternative suspects besides Syed in the 1999 murder of Hae Min Lee, an ex-girlfriend of his.
