Appeals Court Upholds Reinstatement of Hae Min Lee Murder Conviction in Adnan Syed Case

The Court of Appeals in Maryland has rejected the appeal by Adnan Syed of his repudiated murder conviction, leading the way for a likely appeal to the state’s highest court. Adnan Syed, who had been convicted of killing his ex-girlfriend Hae Min Lee in 1999, had his conviction vacated by Baltimore County prosecutors last year after they identified alternative suspects and inconsistent evidence. However, this was short-lived as Hae Min Lee’s family successfully appealed to have the murder conviction reinstated and the vacatur hearing redone, which the appellate court granted in a 2-1 decision. Adnan Syed’s appeal also pointed out whether the state was granting undue privileges to the victim’s family, and questioned whether the victims’ rights movement was hindering progressive criminal justice reforms. Adnan Syed, who was freed from jail in September, still remains convicted of murder despite the state’s wish to revoke the conviction. Adnan Syed’s attorney has stated that they will be seeking review in the Supreme Court of Maryland.