Serial, which focused on the conviction of Adnan Syed for the murder of his ex-girlfriend Hae Min Lee, was the original hit true crime podcast series when it was released in 2014. Eight years later, new developments look set to see Syed given a new trial.
The podcast focused in part on the testimony of a potential key witness, Asia McClain, who the makers believed could corroborate Mr Syed’s claim to be in the library at the time that Lee was murdered. However, further evidence has now been uncovered to suggest that two other suspects could have been behind the killing, with both being known to police at the time of the murder.
The result is that Mr Syed’s conviction could be thrown out of court and the Baltimore man released from prison for the first time in more than two decades.
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Why are prosecutors seeking a retrial for Adnan Syed for the murder of Hae Min Lee?
Two new pieces of information have emerged which point to two other suspects which prosecutors believe may have committed the crime . Neither suspect has been named by authorities, but both were known to police at the time of the murder in 1999.
One of the suspects had threatened to make Lee “disappear” or kill her, a piece of evidence that was not known to Mr Syed’s defence attorneys at the time - which could prove to be a trial violation. Also, Lee’s car was found behind the house of one of the suspects, a piece of evidence that wasn’t found until this year.
This has led Baltimore prosecutor Marilyn Mosby to ask the courts to scrap Mr Syed’s 2000 conviction for premeditated murder, kidnapping, robbery and false imprisonment of Lee and put him on trial again. She said: "After a nearly year-long investigation reviewing the facts of this case, Syed deserves a new trial where he is adequately represented and the latest evidence can be presented."
Mrs Molby continued: "As stewards of the court, we are obligated to uphold confidence in the integrity of convictions and do our part to correct when this standard has been comprised."
The news was welcomed by Mr Syed’s lawyer, Erica Suter, who released a statement saying: "Given the stunning lack of reliable evidence implicating Mr Syed, coupled with increasing evidence pointing to other suspects, this unjust conviction cannot stand. Mr Syed is grateful that this information has finally seen the light of day and looks forward to his day in court."
Syed has spent more than two decades in prison but could be released on bail should the courts proceed with having him retried for the murder of Lee.
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