The prosecution drops the murder case that became famous in the podcast “The Serial” | Globalism

Syed, 42, has been in prison since 2000 when he was sentenced to life in prison for murder. Last month, Baltimore District Court Judge Melissa Fain overturned the conviction after identifying problems with the investigation. It ordered Syed’s release and placement under house arrest until prosecutors decide whether to try him again.

The Baltimore State Attorney’s Office said Tuesday in an email that it has dropped the case against Syed.

Lee was strangled and buried in a Baltimore park when she was eighteen. Sid claimed he was innocent and did not kill her. The “Serial” podcast, produced by Chicago Public Radio WBEZ, drew attention to the issue in 2014.

Prosecutors filed a motion on September 15 to overturn the conviction after a year-long investigation with a public defender representing Syed. She faced several problems with witnesses and evidence from the trial.

Prosecutors said they discovered new information about two alternate suspects, both with histories of violent crimes against women, including one that threatened to kill Lee. Their identities were known to the original plaintiffs, but were not disclosed to the defense as required by law in the United States.

Four days later, prosecutors told Judge Finn of the Baltimore District Court that they no longer had confidence in the “fairness of the conviction” and that the court demanded that Syed be tried at least one more time.

Finn then ordered the release of Syed and placed him under house arrest, until the prosecution decided for a new trial.

Reuters contacted Syed’s defense to comment on the next steps now that the prosecution has dropped the case, but it did not receive any response until the latest update of this report.