Following a yearlong investigation conducted alongside his defence team, the state’s attorney for Baltimore City says that new evidence has emerged, including the possible involvement of two alternative suspects.
In the court filing, prosecutors say there is evidence that two suspects may have been involved, either together or separately.
Prosecutors state that the suspects, who are not named in the court papers, were known to investigators during the first probe but were not properly ruled out.
In a motion filed on Wednesday, prosecutors are asking for Mr Syed to receive a fresh trial, while not stating that they believe him to be innocent, according to The Wall Street Journal.
“However, for all the reasons set forth below, the State no longer has confidence in the integrity of the conviction,” stated the office of Baltimore State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby in the court filing.
Prosecutors are recommending that Mr Syed be released from prison on his own recognisance as the investigation continues, according to the report.
Mr Syed, who has strongly maintained his innocence, was serving a life sentence following his conviction in 2000 for the strangling of his ex-girlfriend. He was 17 years old at the time of her killing and was tried as an adult.
“Given the stunning lack of reliable evidence implicating Mr Syed, coupled with increasing evidence pointing to other suspects, this unjust conviction cannot stand,” Assistant Public Defender Erica Suter, Mr Syed’s attorney and Director of the Innocence Project Clinic said in a statement.
“Mr Syed is grateful that this information has finally seen the light of day and looks forward to his day in court.”
The 2014 Serial podcast and a subsequent HBO documentary have raised questions about his conviction, and in 2018 he was granted a new trial by a special appeals court.
But in 2019 that decision was thrown out by Maryland’s Court of Appeals, the highest one in the state.
The court filing states that during the reexamination of the case, prosecutors found a document in the state’s case file from a witness who said that one of the other suspects had publicly threatened Lee.
Following a yearlong investigation conducted alongside his defence team, the state’s attorney for Baltimore City says that new evidence has emerged, including the possible involvement of two alternative suspects.
In the court filing, prosecutors say there is evidence that two suspects may have been involved, either together or separately.
Prosecutors state that the suspects, who are not named in the court papers, were known to investigators during the first probe but were not properly ruled out.
In a motion filed on Wednesday, prosecutors are asking for Mr Syed to receive a fresh trial, while not stating that they believe him to be innocent, according to The Wall Street Journal.
“However, for all the reasons set forth below, the State no longer has confidence in the integrity of the conviction,” stated the office of Baltimore State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby in the court filing.
Prosecutors are recommending that Mr Syed be released from prison on his own recognisance as the investigation continues, according to the report.
Mr Syed, who has strongly maintained his innocence, was serving a life sentence following his conviction in 2000 for the strangling of his ex-girlfriend. He was 17 years old at the time of her killing and was tried as an adult.
“Given the stunning lack of reliable evidence implicating Mr Syed, coupled with increasing evidence pointing to other suspects, this unjust conviction cannot stand,” Assistant Public Defender Erica Suter, Mr Syed’s attorney and Director of the Innocence Project Clinic said in a statement.
“Mr Syed is grateful that this information has finally seen the light of day and looks forward to his day in court.”
The 2014 Serial podcast and a subsequent HBO documentary have raised questions about his conviction, and in 2018 he was granted a new trial by a special appeals court.
But in 2019 that decision was thrown out by Maryland’s Court of Appeals, the highest one in the state.
The court filing states that during the reexamination of the case, prosecutors found a document in the state’s case file from a witness who said that one of the other suspects had publicly threatened Lee.
PUBLISHER'S NOTE: I am monitoring this case/issue/resurce. Keep your eye on the Charles Smith Blog for reports on developments. The Toronto Star, my previous employer for more than twenty incredible years, has put considerable effort into exposing the harm caused by Dr. Charles Smith and his protectors - and into pushing for reform of Ontario's forensic pediatric pathology system. The Star has a "topic" section which focuses on recent stories related to Dr. Charles Smith. It can be found at: http://www.thestar.com/topic/charlessmith. Information on "The Charles Smith Blog Award"- and its nomination process - can be found at: http://smithforensic.blogspot.com/2011/05/charles-smith-blog-award-nominations.html Please send any comments or information on other cases and issues of interest to the readers of this blog to: hlevy15@gmail.com. Harold Levy: Publisher: The Charles Smith Blog;
