SYED IS OUT OF PRISON AND OWN HOME MONITORING, BUT HE IS NOT OUT OF THE WOODS YET. IT’S NEVER OVER UNTIL THE CASE IS COMPLETELY OVER DAVID GERALD IS THE FACULTY DIRECTOR FOR THE CENTER FOR CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM AT THE UNIVERSITY OF BALTIMORE. HE SAYS THE STATE HAS 30 DAYS TO DECIDE IF THEY ARE GOING TO FILE NEW CHARGES OR DISMISS THE CASE, BUT EVEN THEN THAT’S NOT REALLY THE DEADLINE BECAUSE WHAT CAN HAPPEN IF THE STATE WANTS MORE TIME IS THEY CAN JUST PUT IT ON FOR TRIAL AND SO IF THEY PUT IT ON FOR TRIAL THEY CAN ACT AS IF IT’S GOING TO TRIAL. I THINK THE PUBLIC SHOULD BE VERY AWARE THAT IF THE CASE DOES GET PUT ON FOR TRIAL THAT IS NOT AN INDICATION THAT WE’RE GOING PTO SEE THIS IN FRONT OF A JURY. IN OTHER WORDS. THEY WILL SCHEDULE A TRIAL DATE. THERE IS AN ONGOING INVESTIGATION IN THE CASE. THERE ARE TWO SUSPECTS THE STATE IS LOOKING AT AND THEY ARE WAITING FOR DNA RESULTS TO COME BACK. THEY ARE LOOKING FOR DNA OF THE PERPETRATOR ON HAMMOND. LEE’S BODY AND CLOTHING. SO NOW THE QUESTION IS DO THEY BELIEVE THEY HAVE A CASE AGAINST MR. SYED AND ETHICALLY THE STATE’S ATTORNEY HAS TO BELIEVE THAT SHE HAS EVIDENCE THAT COULD PERSUADE A JURY BEYOND A REASONABLE DOUBT BEFORE SHE CAN GO FORWARD WITH A CASE AGAINST HIM SO ABSENCE SEEING STRONGER EVIDENCE. MY EXPECTATION IS THIS CASE WILL EVENTUALLY BE DISMISSED. GENERAL SAYS IT’S VERY HARD TO LITIGATE A 20 YEAR OLD CASE. HE SAYS IT’S HARD TO PUT A DEFENSE BECAUSE WITNESSES HAVE DISAPPEARED PEOPLE DON’T REMEMBER AND THE PHYSICAL EVIDENCE H
Hae Min Lee’s family files notice of appeal after Adnan Syed’s conviction vacated
The brother of Hae Min Lee filed a notice of appeal after the judge’s ruling to vacate the murder conviction of Adnan Syed.Video above: What’s next for Adnan Syed?Syed was released on Sept. 19 after his murder conviction was vacated. Syed, 41, is now out on home detention, but he is not out of the woods yet. Syed could next go to a new trial, or prosecutors could use the procedure to seek more time, a legal expert told 11 News.Lee’s brother, Young Lee, was able to speak the court via Zoom from California on the day Syed’s conviction was vacated; however, at the time, the family said it had little notice of the hearing. The judge ruled against a motion from the Lee family’s attorney to postpone the hearing until the family could participate.On Wednesday night, attorney Steve Kelly, who represents the Lee family, sent a statement to 11 News, saying: “Young Lee filed a notice of appeal based on violations of his family’s right to meaningfully participate in the Sept. 19, 2022, hearing on the motion to vacate Adnan Syed’s conviction. The notice of appeal is the first step in seeking the Maryland Court of Special Appeals’ review of the potential violations of Maryland’s victim’s rights statutes in connection with the hearing.”On the day of the hearing, Kelly released a statement on behalf of the family, saying: “For more than 20 years, the Baltimore City State’s Attorney’s Office has told the family of Hae Min Lee that their beloved daughter and sister was murdered by Adnan Syed. One week ago, for the first time, the family was informed that, through a year-long investigation that is apparently still ongoing, the state had uncovered new facts and would be filing a motion to vacate Mr. Syed’s conviction.”For more than 20 years, no one has wanted to know the truth about who killed Hae Min Lee more than her family.”The Lee family is deeply disappointed that today’s hearing happened so quickly and that they were denied the reasonable notice that would have permitted them to have a meaningful voice in the proceedings.”Prosecutors sought to have the conviction vacated after an investigation turned up Brady violations and the possibility of two other suspects.David Jaros, University of Baltimore School of Law faculty director of the Center for Criminal Justice Reform, told 11 News the state could schedule a trial date as an investigation in the case continues.”Now, the question is, do they believe they have a case against Syed? And, ethically, the state’s attorney has to believe that she has evidence that can persuade a jury beyond a reasonable doubt before she can go forward with a case against him. So, absent of seeing stronger evidence, my expectation is this case will eventually be dismissed,” Jaros said Monday.Jaros said it’s hard to litigate a 20-year-old case, and it’s hard to put up a defense because witnesses have disappeared, people don’t remember and the physical evidence has degraded. 11 TV Hill video below: Syed case — ‘There’s something deeply wrong with the system’
The brother of Hae Min Lee filed a notice of appeal after the judge’s ruling to vacate the murder conviction of Adnan Syed.
Video above: What’s next for Adnan Syed?
Syed was released on Sept. 19 after his murder conviction was vacated. Syed, 41, is now out on home detention, but he is not out of the woods yet. Syed could next go to a new trial, or prosecutors could use the procedure to seek more time, a legal expert told 11 News.
Lee’s brother, Young Lee, was able to speak the court via Zoom from California on the day Syed’s conviction was vacated; however, at the time, the family said it had little notice of the hearing. The judge ruled against a motion from the Lee family’s attorney to postpone the hearing until the family could participate.
On Wednesday night, attorney Steve Kelly, who represents the Lee family, sent a statement to 11 News, saying: “Young Lee filed a notice of appeal based on violations of his family’s right to meaningfully participate in the Sept. 19, 2022, hearing on the motion to vacate Adnan Syed’s conviction. The notice of appeal is the first step in seeking the Maryland Court of Special Appeals’ review of the potential violations of Maryland’s victim’s rights statutes in connection with the hearing.”
On the day of the hearing, Kelly released a statement on behalf of the family, saying: “For more than 20 years, the Baltimore City State’s Attorney’s Office has told the family of Hae Min Lee that their beloved daughter and sister was murdered by Adnan Syed. One week ago, for the first time, the family was informed that, through a year-long investigation that is apparently still ongoing, the state had uncovered new facts and would be filing a motion to vacate Mr. Syed’s conviction.
“For more than 20 years, no one has wanted to know the truth about who killed Hae Min Lee more than her family.
“The Lee family is deeply disappointed that today’s hearing happened so quickly and that they were denied the reasonable notice that would have permitted them to have a meaningful voice in the proceedings.”
Prosecutors sought to have the conviction vacated after an investigation turned up Brady violations and the possibility of two other suspects.
David Jaros, University of Baltimore School of Law faculty director of the Center for Criminal Justice Reform, told 11 News the state could schedule a trial date as an investigation in the case continues.
“Now, the question is, do they believe they have a case against Syed? And, ethically, the state’s attorney has to believe that she has evidence that can persuade a jury beyond a reasonable doubt before she can go forward with a case against him. So, absent of seeing stronger evidence, my expectation is this case will eventually be dismissed,” Jaros said Monday.
Jaros said it’s hard to litigate a 20-year-old case, and it’s hard to put up a defense because witnesses have disappeared, people don’t remember and the physical evidence has degraded.
11 TV Hill video below: Syed case — ‘There’s something deeply wrong with the system’
