Processes: Case from podcast "Serial": Hearing should be repeated

The case of the American Adnan Syed, who was convicted of murder and became known worldwide through the podcast "Serial", is not over yet.

Processes: Case from podcast "Serial": Hearing should be repeated

The case of the American Adnan Syed, who was convicted of murder and became known worldwide through the podcast "Serial", is not over yet. A Maryland appeals court on Tuesday reversed the overturning of the verdict last fall. The reason: The right of family members of the victim to be present at the hearing at the time was disregarded. Therefore, the hearing must be repeated.

The judges emphasized that Syed's murder conviction and life sentence are initially valid again. At the same time, they suspended implementation for 60 days so that the sides could consider how to proceed.

"In the interests of fairness and justice"

The 41-year-old was arrested as a teenager after the murder of his ex-girlfriend in 1999 and sentenced to life imprisonment the following year. He always maintained his innocence - and the podcast "Serial" also drew international attention to his case. Last October, a judge overturned the guilty verdict "in the interests of fairness and justice." Prosecutors previously said a nearly year-long investigation had uncovered new information about two other suspects and cast doubt on the reliability of cellphone tower data.

However, the Court of Appeal found that the victim's brother had been informed about the hearing too quickly, only one working day in advance. It must be repeated in a transparent form. Out of three appeals judges, two voted in favor of this decision and one against. The brother of the dead had taken part in the hearing at the time via video conference. The appeals court denied his request to challenge the arguments for an overturn of Syed's conviction at the repeat hearing.

A spokesman for the prosecutor's office told broadcaster ABC that the decision was being reviewed. He also noted that Syed's attorneys could appeal the decision to the Maryland Supreme Court. Prosecutors dropped the allegations against Syed last year.

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