Maryland’s highest courtroom has reinstated the homicide conviction of Adnan Syed, who was freed after spending greater than 20 years in jail preventing fees that he killed his ex-girlfriend.

The ruling marks yet one more twist within the case made well-known by the hit podcast Serial, because it now returns to a decrease courtroom for a brand new listening to.

Syed was cleared of all fees in 2022, after prosecutors stated he had been wrongfully convicted of strangling and killing his ex-girlfriend Hae Min Lee.

However in March 2023, an appeals courtroom reinstated his conviction after discovering that the decrease courtroom had failed to offer Younger Lee, Ms Lee’s brother, enough discover of the listening to that freed Syed.

In a 4-3 opinion, Maryland’s Supreme Court docket on Friday upheld this choice, saying the decrease courtroom decide had “labored an injustice” by not giving Younger Lee affordable discover of the listening to.

The ruling means the case might be despatched to a decrease courtroom for a brand new listening to on whether or not Syed’s homicide conviction must be thrown out. The courtroom didn’t order any modifications to his launch, which means he’ll stay free whereas his case is heard.

In a press release, Syed’s lawyer, Erica Suter, stated the courtroom had reached a call his authorized group “couldn’t disagree with extra”.

“The very best courtroom’s choice could also be ultimate however that doesn’t make its reasoning proper,” Ms Suter stated.

“Although this newest ruling is a roadblock in the best way of Adnan’s exoneration, we’ve religion that justice will prevail, and can work tirelessly to clear his title as soon as and for all,” she added.

Syed and Hae Min Lee had been classmates in highschool in Baltimore County, Maryland when Lee disappeared in January 1999. Her physique was present in a forest three weeks later.

Prosecutors on the time alleged Syed carried out the crime after changing into jealous of Lee’s new relationship after the 2 broke up.

Syed’s story turned identified to thousands and thousands by way of NPR’s Serial podcast in addition to an HBO docuseries, each of which solid doubts on the proof linking Syed to Lee’s dying.

The investigations have alleged prosecutors relied on inconsistent testimony from a classmate of Syed’s in addition to unreliable mobile phone tower knowledge to position him on the scene of the crime.

The Lee household has continued to argue that Syed is responsible and has opposed his launch.

Hae Min Lee’s brother, Younger Lee, stated in 2022 that he wished to journey from California to attend the listening to that freed Syed, however he couldn’t on quick discover.

Syed’s lawyer, Ms Suter, has argued Younger Lee’s rights weren’t violated as he was allowed to take part within the listening to through video.

“This isn’t a podcast for me. It’s actual life,” Younger Lee informed the courtroom in the course of the 2022 listening to.

Lower than two years after Adnan Syed was launched from jail, Maryland’s prime court docket has ordered a redo on the very listening to that freed him.

On Friday, the Maryland Supreme Court docket upheld an appellate court docket’s resolution from 2023 to reinstate Syed’s conviction. That ruling was primarily based on the argument that the homicide sufferer’s household didn’t obtain sufficient discover in regards to the listening to that led to Syed’s launch.

Now, the case will head to a brand new decrease court docket decide, who will decide the destiny of Syed’s conviction. The Maryland Supreme Court docket stated Syed can stay free within the meantime.

The 43-year-old spent 23 years in jail for the homicide of his former highschool girlfriend, Hae Min Lee. His case drew nationwide consideration after being the primary focus of the Serial podcast’s first season. The episodes raised doubts about a few of the case’s proof and led to requires a brand new trial. Syed was initially going through life in jail till a Baltimore decide vacated his conviction in 2022.

Syed went on to work for Georgetown College’s Prisons and Justice Initiative. However his case is way from settled. Here is what to know.

A recap of Syed’s prison case

In 1999, Baltimore highschool scholar Hae Min Lee’s physique was found in a metropolis park, just a few weeks after she had gone lacking. Her post-mortem decided that she had been strangled to demise.

Syed, who had beforehand dated Lee, was charged together with her homicide and in 2000, he was sentenced to life in jail. On the time, he was 18 years previous.

Syed had lengthy maintained that he was harmless however his case acquired renewed consideration in 2014 after it was chronicled within the debut season of the Serial podcast. Over the course of 12 episodes, Serial probed on the particulars in Syed’s case and uncovered flaws within the authorized system. One poignant query from the podcast was in regards to the reliability of cellphone tower proof.

Syed’s attorneys raised comparable issues and in 2016, Syed was granted a brand new trial. The state appealed the ruling and his case went by means of numerous courts. In 2019, the U.S. Supreme Court docket declined to listen to his case.

Issues took a flip in 2022 after a year-long investigation resulted in new details about two attainable, various suspects. In September of that 12 months, Syed was launched from jail and prosecutors later determined to drop all instances in opposition to him.

Why Syed’s homicide conviction acquired reinstated

In 2023, Lee’s household urged the Appellate Court docket of Maryland for a redo of the listening to that received Syed his freedom. The household argued that Lee’s brother, who lived in California, acquired about three days discover in regards to the listening to and subsequently, was unable to attend in particular person — violating Maryland victims’ rights, the Related Press reported on the time.

“We’re not on a marketing campaign to have Adnan Syed put again in jail,” legal professional David Sanford, representing Lee’s household, stated in 2023. “That is about respecting victims and their representatives.”

The appellate court docket dominated in favor of Lee’s household and reinstated Syed’s homicide conviction. The court docket additionally a ordered a brand new listening to within the case. That ruling was upheld by Maryland’s highest court docket on Friday.

“In an effort to treatment what they perceived to be an injustice to Mr. Syed, the prosecutor and the circuit court docket labored an injustice in opposition to Mr. Lee,” Maryland’s Supreme Court docket wrote in an opinion on Friday.

What’s subsequent

Baltimore’s state legal professional’s workplace stated it was reviewing the excessive court docket’s resolution and had no additional particulars about subsequent steps ahead.

In a press release, Lee’s household’s legal professional, Sanford, applauded the court docket for reaffirming crime victims’ rights and giving the household the prospect to be heard correctly in court docket.

“If there may be compelling proof to assist vacating the conviction of Adnan Syed, we would be the first to agree,” Sanford stated.

Syed’s legal professional, Erica Suter, stated she disagreed with the court docket’s resolution, including that it’s going to put an emotional toll on each Lee and Syed’s household.

“Although this newest ruling is a roadblock in the way in which of Adnan’s exoneration, we have now religion that justice will prevail, and can work tirelessly to clear his title as soon as and for all,” Suter stated in a press release.

Copyright 2024 NPR

Anthony Rubek, assistant sports activities editor: 9-4

After dropping a number of video games in heartbreaking trend lately, this Husker workforce has what it takes to show issues round. 

In fact, all eyes will probably be on true freshman quarterback Dylan Raiola and the way he transitions into school play. Nevertheless, he’s arrange with a supporting solid that few Nebraska quarterbacks have had in current reminiscence. 

Inexperience on offense proved expensive for the Huskers up to now, however now the group is almost caught as much as their defensive counterparts. Accidents pushed receivers Malachi Coleman and Jaylen Lloyd into the highlight final yr, giving the sophomores a yr of convention play underneath their belt and the boldness that comes with it. Add in dynamic transfers Jahmal Banks and Isaiah Neyor, and Nebraska’s air assault is in enterprise.

In the meantime, junior tight finish Thomas Fidone II continues to keep away from the harm bug and may rank up there with the Massive Ten’s greatest on the place. Rounding issues out is a operating again room and offensive line that return a number of gamers with expertise.

The Blackshirt protection that ranked within the prime 15 within the nation in 2023 returns almost each key contributor, in addition to a number of depth items. After incomes 9 of the ten single-digit numbers for the yr, all indicators level to a different dominant yr from Tony White’s crew.

A simple first half of the season offers Nebraska an opportunity to make main waves within the Massive Ten and school soccer world. Whereas a difficult again half might function a roadblock in these plans, I nonetheless see the Huskers doing properly sufficient to make their first bowl recreation since 2016.

Ben Beecham, assistant sports activities editor: 9-4

One other Nebraska soccer season means one other yr of massive expectations. Plenty of the expectations are normally delusions fueled by the fan base, nevertheless this yr there are actual causes to be excited. 

Current seasons have resulted in disappointment for the Huskers, however this can be the right storm for them to snap their eight-year streak of not making a bowl recreation. With head coach Matt Rhule establishing his tradition and quarterback Dylan Raiola taking the lead on offense, Nebraska might lastly attain the followers’ lofty expectations.

On offense, the Huskers are in the perfect place they’ve been in for some time. There’s the apparent improve of Raiola at quarterback however all throughout the sector Nebraska has improved. The receivers, the road and the backfield have all gotten a face-lift this offseason and look to enhance an offense that ranked twelfth within the convention in factors per recreation. 

On the defensive facet, the Huskers didn’t make lots of adjustments as a result of they didn’t must. The Blackshirts are skilled and are crammed prime to backside with disruptors. To succeed, all of the protection must do is replicate what they did final season, however their doubtless enchancment means this unit could possibly be one of many nation’s greatest.

Nebraska’s favorable schedule additionally helps their probabilities. The Huskers will doubtless be favored of their first seven video games and have an actual probability to be undefeated heading into their midseason matchup at Ohio State. Even when they have been to drop a recreation or two in that span, Nebraska’s bowl likelihood is the perfect they’ve been shortly. 

Barring main accidents, it appears to be like just like the Huskers have the items to lastly put it collectively.

Ben Drozd, employees author: 9-4

Nebraska’s historical past over the past eight-plus years makes this prediction appear a bit formidable, because the Huskers haven’t had a profitable report since 2016. Nevertheless, there’s one factor totally different this season from years previous – Dylan Raiola.

Many Husker followers consider Nebraska would have gotten at the very least six or seven wins final yr with simply common quarterback play. What about above-average? In case you haven’t heard, Dylan Raiola is above common.

Head coach Matt Rhule in his first two years at Temple went from 2-10 to 6-6, and at Baylor, it was a good larger bounce from 1-11 to 7-6. It doesn’t appear too daring to say that underneath yr two of Rhule, Nebraska can get three extra wins with the addition of Raiola, a positive schedule and virtually the identical protection as final yr that ranked eleventh within the nation.

I count on Nebraska to begin the season 5-2 heading into Ohio State, dropping to Colorado at dwelling and Purdue on the highway. The Buffaloes will probably be Dylan Raiola’s first actual take a look at, and rising pains are to be anticipated. Purdue has gained three of the final 4 matchups towards the Huskers, and touring to Ross-Ade Stadium for an 11 a.m. recreation seems like bother for his or her first away recreation.

After a loss to Ohio State, I predict Nebraska will go 3-1 in November to complete the season out sturdy. Whereas Nebraska struggled towards the top of the season final yr, Dylan Raiola ought to be taking part in his greatest soccer of the season come November. USC, Wisconsin and Iowa all look like toss-ups, and I count on the Huskers to win two of the three.

All indicators level to a powerful season for Matt Rhule and firm this yr.

Danny Berg, employees author: 10-3

With competent quarterback play, the 2023 Nebraska soccer workforce ought to have recorded eight wins and located themselves in a halfway-decent bowl recreation. Territory through which the Huskers haven’t discovered themselves for the reason that Cubs gained the World Collection (really feel outdated but?).

Jeff Sims dropping the QB competitors at Arizona State proves that Matt Rhule whiffed on the decide final time round, however he made positive to not screw up recruiting the perfect highschool signal-caller in Dylan Raiola.

Evening and day, the weapons on offense have been vastly improved. Receivers like Alex Bullock, who was a significant contributor to final yr’s squad, now discover themselves combating for enjoying time. Almost the whole beginning protection returns, a unit that was extensively generally known as a top-15 protection throughout the nation.

What stays to be seen is how the offensive line holds up. Nebraska solely sports activities two linemen per place (besides at left guard with three). The lack of Teddy Prochazka solely amplifies the deficit that the Huskers have within the trenches.

Whereas the predictions that Nebraska will probably be a Faculty Soccer Playoff darkish horse appear a bit of outlandish, particularly in in the present day’s Massive Ten soccer panorama, a profitable season looks like a foregone conclusion. The Huskers ought to be competing for a formidable bowl recreation come December, however don’t be stunned both in the event that they discover themselves ranked for the primary time since September of 2019.

sports activities@dailynebraskan.com

About an hour earlier than my father Nicholas died, my Mother, 4 siblings and I have been sitting with him in his bed room. He lay in mattress, non-responsive however principally peaceable; after a 16 month battle with colon most cancers, we knew the tip was approaching. My sister prompt we see if there was a recreation on TV. Dad would really like that. Because it was Could, I figured we might simply discover a baseball recreation. Somebody discovered the distant, flipped on the TV, and there on the display screen, the very very first thing we noticed have been the phrases: “Recreation of the Century. Nebraska vs Oklahoma 1971.” All of us type of simply checked out one another. We sat there as highlights from one of the necessary video games in Nebraska soccer historical past performed on the display screen. Seems it was an ESPN particular in regards to the best video games in faculty soccer historical past. However in that second, it felt like an indication from God. 

Dad was one of many largest Nebraska soccer followers within the historical past of planet earth. He might keep in mind video games, gamers, scores, large performs, dangerous calls, all the things. He was a season ticket holder for many years. We have been even fortunate sufficient to go to some bowl video games over time. Dad was not probably the most outgoing man, however he was a sneakily good storyteller, and I used to be raised on tales of how the one time he ever noticed his personal father tempo the ground was through the Recreation of the Century. Or how Tom Osborne didn’t hesitate to go for 2 within the 1984 Orange Bowl, although a tie in these pre-overtime days would have probably secured a nationwide championship for the Huskers. Dad instructed me Osborne mentioned after the sport that he at all times needed his groups to play for the win, and although Nebraska misplaced that evening, Osborne earned plenty of respect together with his choice. I can nonetheless really feel my childhood, corn-fed, Husker delight swelling, listening to in regards to the nice historical past of our beloved Huge Crimson. And naturally, there have been loads of tales in regards to the quite a few instances the Huskers had been hosed by the officers. Everybody is aware of the faculty soccer industrial complicated has been out to get Nebraska for a very long time. 

This factor we love, this factor we share, this factor we get to be a part of, NEBRASKA FOOTBALL,  is really particular. It’s a lot greater than a recreation performed by faculty youngsters. It transcends the petty disagreements of every day life; it exists outdoors of the most important divisions now we have as people. For 12 Saturdays each fall, we’re not Republicans or Democrats, believers or non-believers, Montagues or Capulets. On these 12 Saturdays, we’re united from Memorial Stadium to the lounge to the potluck to the alumni watch get together; from Omaha to Scottsbluff, from South Sioux Metropolis to Sidney, from Beatrice to Damaged Bow. We’re united in a standard mission with a standard goal, as if now we have the facility to impression the sport, to will the boys in pink to victory. I can’t inform you what number of instances the thought has crossed my thoughts, watching these pink jerseys run out of the tunnel earlier than kickoff, “Man, I’m so fortunate to be a part of this.” What do individuals do in the event that they don’t have one thing like Nebraska soccer? After all, that’s just a little bit tongue-in-cheek; there are many different methods we are able to and do discover that means in life. However for these few hours on Saturdays within the fall, what occurs on that discipline is a very powerful factor on the planet. 

And anyone might be a part of it. Some Husker followers grew up within the state and graduated from the College. Others by no means lived within the state, however had a household or private connection that drew them in. Nonetheless others found the staff through the heydays of the Nineteen Eighties and ‘90s, and determined they needed to root for a winner. Everybody’s story is totally different and distinctive on this large tent that’s the Nebraska fan base, and it’s stunning.  

As a lot as something, Nebraska soccer is about household. It’s handed down from one technology to the following, by means of tales of video games and gamers passed by; by means of shared experiences of recreation watching, tailgating, and obsessing over the newest follow report or recruiting information. It’s about fathers and moms and daughters and sons and the hopes of a complete state and a fan base that spans the globe. Collectively we have a good time the exhilaration of victory and lament the devastation of defeat. In our season kickoff episode with Tom Shatel, we requested him a couple of line he wrote in a latest column, stating that Nebraska followers stay “undefeated in opposition to apathy.” The very first thing he talked about in his response was about household, about one technology leaving their season tickets to the following technology within the will. These tickets are as priceless as any household heirloom; our shared Husker recollections as necessary because the household origin story.   

I acquired up early Monday morning. Monday morning of recreation week–it’s lastly right here! After finishing a handful of podcast-related duties, with the home nonetheless quiet, I excitedly learn all the newest Husker information and commentary I might discover, as we method a brand new season full of hope. Tom Shatel. Sam McKewon. Steve Sipple. All of the favorites who appear to stroll with us on this journey, narrating the season because it unfolds every week. Someway, having accomplished my to-do record and skim my fill of Husker protection, the home was nonetheless quiet (a rarity, as at the least one of many youngsters is often up by or earlier than 6am). 

Then, within the calm of the morning alone with my espresso, I considered my Dad. It’s been greater than two years since he handed away and nonetheless, after I take into consideration Nebraska soccer (which, you understand, occurs rather a lot), I take into consideration Dad. I want I might name him and speak Husker soccer with him. He can be so enthusiastic about this season, completely swept up within the optimism surrounding this system. I want he might see this podcast we’ve created. All Husker soccer, on a regular basis. That’s how we describe the pod. He’d love each minute of it; he’d be the primary one to pay attention to every new episode. And I don’t suppose it’s a stretch to say, he’s the rationale it exists. What drives a man in his early 40s with a full time job, a spouse and three youngsters to spend what little free time he has dedicated to a podcast about Nebraska soccer? It’s a lifelong love affair, one which began with tales about Grandpa pacing the ground. 

A few month earlier than he handed away, Dad had a choice to make: strive an oral type of chemotherapy, which had no assure of getting any impression in any respect, and the unintended effects of which may very well be worse than the potential advantages; or discontinue therapy altogether. In both state of affairs, docs thought he might need three to 6 months left. I used to be there when he made the choice. Staring out the kitchen window, he immediately circled and mentioned he was carried out with therapy, and placing issues in God’s palms. What a horrible choice for anybody to need to face. And but, my reminiscence of that day is that there was an air of optimism as soon as he made the choice. He was going to take pleasure in no matter time he had left. And I can nonetheless see and listen to him, clear as day, saying, “Perhaps I’ll even get to soccer season.” 

He didn’t make it to soccer season. Generally I feel that’s unfair, however then I do not forget that the 2022 staff was such a catastrophe, possibly the Man Upstairs did him a favor by sparing him the agony of getting to look at one other disappointing season. 

It’s telling, although, that within the midst of this main life choice, after all Dad was eager about soccer. And it’s so becoming that, within the final moments of his life, the very first thing we noticed once we turned on the TV was a spotlight from the Recreation of the Century. Perhaps that basically was an indication from God. Just a bit nod, letting us know to not fear, Dad’s on his option to a greater place and he’ll be there quickly. There can be no higher option to ship that message. 

So right here we’re, my fellow Widespread Followers, chomping on the bit for an additional season to start. Into this new season of hope we stroll collectively, arm in arm, able to scream at our TVs, tailgate like our lives rely upon it, do no matter it takes to play some small half in getting the Nebraska soccer staff again to its successful methods. In doing so, we stand on the shoulders of those that launched us to this grand custom, who shared it with us in order that we too may very well be a part of it, be immersed in it, and share it with our kids. It’s in our blood; it’s a part of who we’re; it’s our shared heritage and our shared identification.

No matter occurs, let’s embrace it. Let’s take pleasure in it for all it’s value. Let’s give it hell for individuals who can’t anymore. I do know that’s what I’m planning on doing, and I do know my Dad can be there, alongside for the journey, in reminiscence and in spirit. 

As at all times, GBR for LIFE.

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