Family of ‘serial’ murder victim asks court to stop case

The families of victims of the murders documented in the first season of the serial podcast have asked Maryland’s Intermediate Court of Appeals to stop Adnan Syed’s court case, pending his family’s appeal against a judge overturning Mr. Syed’s murder conviction.

Li Yang, brother of victim Li Haimin, asked the Maryland Special Appeals Court to suspend further proceedings in a six-page motion filed late last month, including an Oct. 18 deadline when prosecutors must decide whether to drop the charges against Mr. Li. . Seid or retry his kill.

He argued that the family had not been given enough notice at a court hearing last month on whether Mr Saeed’s conviction should be overturned.

“The Lee family is not seeking to influence Mr. Saeed’s release through this motion or appeal,” said the family’s attorney, Steve Kelly.

“If the wrong person has been imprisoned for 23 years, the Lee family and the rest of the world want to understand what new evidence led to this conclusion.”

Baltimore Circuit Judge Melissa Finn overturned Mr Syed’s conviction on September 19. The Baltimore state attorney’s office said it found evidence that should have been disclosed to Mr. Syed’s lawyers.

Prosecutions began dropping Mr Syed’s conviction on September 14. According to the family’s motion, this comes two days after they notified Lee’s family of a year-long investigation.

Then on September 16, Mr Saeed’s lawyers and prosecutors discussed the motion at a meeting in Judge Phinn’s office.

Judge Fein ordered a new trial, but prosecutors have 30 days – until October 18 – during which time to dismiss the charges or start a new trial.

Mr Saeed has always maintained his innocence. His case drew the attention of millions in 2014, when the first season of the series focused on Ms. Lee’s killing and questioned some of the evidence used by prosecutors, sparking speculation about Syed’s innocence or the possibility of her death. Guilty heated debate.

Said was serving a life sentence for strangling 18-year-old Lee, whose body was found buried in a Baltimore park.

Prosecutors said a re-investigation of the case revealed evidence that two other possible suspects may be involved. The state attorney’s office said the two suspects may have been involved individually or together.