Judge Weighs Decision to Reduce 1999 Murder Suspect’s Sentence to Time Served

Thank you for reading Baltimore Witness.
Consider making a donation to help us continue our mission.

Donate Now

Baltimore City Circuit Court before Judge Jennifer B. Schiffer says she’ll decide soon whether to commute the life sentence of Adnan Syed to time served. He was convicted for the 1999 fatal strangulation of Hae Min Lee, and a ruling in his favor would effectively let Syed, now 43, remain free.

At the end of the lengthy, emotional hearing on Feb. 26 the judge was heard to say the matter required “heavy considerations” and promised to resolve the 26-year-old case which came to national attention after continuing coverage on the Serial podcast.

“Adnan’s fight for justice continues, but we are relieved he remains free. We are hopeful that the court will see what we see — that he is a walking demonstration of a positive and contributing member of society,” said Syed’s attorney, Erica Suter, a public defender who heads the innocence project clinic at the University of Baltimore Law School.

The case has followed a long and sometimes contradictory path.

Hae Min Lee went missing on Jan. 13, 1999. Her corpse was later discovered partially buried in Leakin Park, and an autopsy revealed signs of manual strangulation. Syed, who was Lee’s ex-boyfriend, was convicted and found guilty on all counts of first-degree murder, kidnapping, false imprisonment and robbery. 

With the help of an interpreter, Lee’s mother delivered an emotional impact statement in Korean through a pre-recorded video.

“On Jan. 13, 1999, on a cold rainy day, my daughter did not return,” she said. “Only her body returned on Feb. 10.” 

Visibly shaken, she begged the court to reconsider overturning his life sentence. 

“He was old enough, he was at an age he could think,” she said. “Please judge him accordingly.”

Syed moved to reduce his sentence under Maryland’s Juvenile Restoration Act, which allows people who have served at least 20 years of a sentence for a crime committed when they were under the age of 18 to file for a lesser sentence. 

In 2022, the state analyzed Lee’s skirt, pantyhose, jacket, and shoes for DNA and found that one of the items produced results that brought new light to the case. Syed’s DNA was excluded from the mix of DNA found on the item, leading the court to exonerate Syed

While prosecutors supported Syed’s request, citing his growth in character and behavior since his sentencing at age 17, Lee’s family argued he failed to accept responsibility or demonstrate remorse. Their opposition followed the Maryland Supreme Court’s August 2024 decision to reinstate Syed’s conviction, emphasizing victims’ rights in legal proceedings.

Suter spoke repeatedly about Syed’s commitments to family, education and role model status among the incarcerated. The defense attorney also reminded the court that during his two years of freedom upon his September 2022 release, Syed displayed “incredible potential” and never even received a parking ticket. 

“He’s talked the talk and walked the walk for almost 25 years,” Suter told Judge Schiffer.

Following his release from prison in September 2022, Syed has worked at the Georgetown University Prisons and Justice Initiative and completed 16 credits toward a Bachelor of Liberal Arts degree. Syed hopes to attend law school in the future. 

Suter emphasized that Syed received the 2005 Distinguished Gentleman’s Award while incarcerated in Jessup, Maryland. The honor is bestowed to two among 1,300 total inmates who demonstrate model behavior, self-control, and the ability to overcome adversity, she said.   

Eric Simmons, a fellow inmate who served time with Syed, told the court that Syed calmly talked him down from committing an act that would result in more jail time.

The prosecution delivered a formal apology to Lee’s brother, who was present in the courtroom, expressing remorse for the state’s repeated failure to properly “take care” of them. 

He agreed with Suter’s argument, stating that Suter’s characterization of Syed did not paint him as a public threat and agreed that it would be best to reduce his sentence. At the end of the hearing, Syed spoke about his role models and the life he envisions going forward.

For her part, Judge Schiffer promised to review the arguments and wouldn’t make people wait long in deciding Syed’s fate.

Following the hearing, Syed was seen leaving the courthouse, smiling and waving peace signs in the air.