The Daily

Why Adnan Syed Was Released From Prison

Sep 20, 2022

Sarah Koenig, the host and executive producer of the iconic Serial podcast, dives into the gripping tale of Adnan Syed, wrongfully convicted for the 1999 murder of Hae Min Lee. She unpacks the fresh revelations that led to his release after 23 years, emphasizing flawed evidence and prosecutorial misconduct. Koenig discusses the re-examination of witness testimonies and the new DNA tests that challenge the original trial's integrity. This conversation sheds light on the complexities of the justice system and the quest for truth.

20:24

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Episode guests

Sarah Koenig

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Episode notes

Intro

5min

Re-examining Justice: New Findings in a Controversial Case

2min

Unraveling the Case: New Evidence and Legal Implications

5min

Unraveling a Flawed Justice System

6min

Navigating Political Uncertainty and National Moments of Reflection

3min

Adnan Syed was accused of the 1999 killing of his classmate and ex-girlfriend Hae Min Lee, whose body was found buried in a car park in Baltimore.

He was convicted and sentenced to life in prison but has proclaimed his innocence for the last 23 years.

Mr. Syed was the subject of the first season of the podcast “Serial,” which painstakingly examined his case and the evidence against him.

Yesterday, his conviction was overturned. On today’s episode, the “Serial” team looks at how this happened.

Guest: Sarah Koenig, the host and executive producer of the “Serial” podcast.

Background reading:

Mr. Syed had been serving a life sentence for the 1999 murder of his high school classmate Hae Min Lee. Here is the timeline of his legal journey.
A Baltimore City Circuit Court judge vacated Mr. Syed’s conviction “in the interests of justice and fairness.”

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