: Adnan Syed’s murder conviction will not be vacated as Baltimore City prosecutors have withdrawn their motion to do so. State’s Attorney Ivan J. Bates expressed concerns about false and misleading statements in the motion, leading to the decision to keep the conviction in place. Syed, convicted in 2000 for the murder of his high school ex-girlfriend Hae Min Lee, recently had his conviction reinstated by the state appeals court due to issues with notification to Lee’s family. Despite this setback, Syed’s legal team is pushing for a reduced sentence, highlighting his positive behavior since his release in October 2022. The case gained widespread attention after being featured on the “Serial” podcast in 2014. Although the motion to vacate the conviction has been withdrawn, Bates still supports the idea of resentencing for Syed under a new state law. The victim’s family remains opposed to reducing Syed’s sentence, emphasizing that he was convicted of premeditated murder. This ongoing legal saga has seen multiple court decisions over the years, with the latest development keeping Syed’s conviction intact.
Indiana’s appeals court reinstated the conviction in March 2023, citing officials’ failure to adequately notify Lee’s family about the hearing. Syed was granted permission to stay out of custody while further legal proceedings took place.
