When Sarah Koenig and Julie Snyder released their investigative podcast into the case of Adnan Syed, they had no idea on how massive the series would become. More than 170 million people downloaded the This American Life series, which shared the story of Syed, who was sentenced in 2000 to life in prison for the 1999 kidnapping and murder of his 18-year-old high school classmate and ex-girlfriend Hae Min Lee.
As Syed remains behind bars despite the court overturning his conviction, HBO is unveiling a four-part documentary about the controversial trial, titled ‘The Case Against Adnan Syed’.
Due to premiere in March, the series – by Academy Award nominee Amy Berg – will feature new interviews with Syed, his family, friends, former teachers, students, members of the Baltimore law enforcement and witnesses. A description on the documentary’s website says it will feature “groundbreaking revelations that challenge the state’s case,” in the form of new evidence previously undiscovered by investigators. It adds the series will “[underscore] the instability of memory and conflicting eyewitnesses.”
RELATED: This Is The New True Crime Series Everyone’s Talking About
Syed’s initial appeal questioned the reliability of evidence used to place him where Lee’s body was later found. Syed’s high school classmate Asia McClain also provided an alibi for him saying she was with him at the time prosecutors claimed he killed Lee. However, McClain was never interviewed or called at trial by Syed’s original attorney, who has since died. Syed’s conviction was vacated and he was granted a new trial in 2016 when a judge agreed with the contention of Syed’s new attorney that he received deficient representation during his murder trial because McClain wasn’t called.
The judge’s ruling was upheld by Maryland’s Court of Special Appeals in 2018. Prosecutors have appealed that ruling to Maryland’s Court of Appeals, its highest court, but the date for that appeal is still pending.
Syed remains behind bars.
Watch the trailer below.
Related stories
Native ad body.
Native ad body.
Native ad body.
