Adnan Syed murder conviction should be vacated following new evidence discovery, prosecutors say

Adnan Syed's murder conviction should be vacated after new evidence was discovered, prosecutors say.

The 41-year-old was sentenced to life in prison in 2000 for the murder of his ex-girlfriend Hae Min Lee.

More than a decade later, the case was the focus of the hit podcast series Serial, which analysed the investigation into Lee's death.

Syed has continued to claim his innocence and appeal the conviction, but has been denied a new trial at every step.

However, the Wall Street Journal has now revealed that state prosecutors in Baltimore are asking a judge to vacate Syed's conviction after new evidence came to light, including two other suspects who were never properly ruled out at the time.

While they are not claiming Syed is innocent, prosecutors have filed a motion stating that he deserves a new trial.

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In a statement, the office of Baltimore State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby said: "However, for all the reasons set forth below, the State no longer has confidence in the integrity of the conviction."

Mosby said today (14 September): "We believe that keeping him detained as we continue to investigate the case with everything that we know now, and when we do not have confidence in results of the first trial, would be unjust."

It's thought that the two individuals named may have been involved, separately or together, in the teenager's murder.

During their reinvestigation into the case, prosecutors found that one of the suspects was named in the state's original trial documents and was said to have threatened Lee's life.

According to the new court filing, the suspect allegedly said 'he would make her [Ms. Lee] disappear. He would kill her'. 

Prosecutors also discovered that Lee's car was found in a grassy lot in Allendale, Baltimore, behind a property belonging to one of the suspect's relatives.

Despite the significance of such a claim, however, the evidence was not passed onto Syed's defence team at the time – though it should have been.

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The court filing reads: "This information was not available to the Defendant in his trial in 2000, and the State believes it would have provided persuasive support substantiating the defense that another person was responsible for the victim’s death."

It was also found that, following Syed's murder conviction, one of the suspects was convicted of rape and sexual assault.

Requesting a new case, prosecutors also questioned the use of phone records during the trial, which were key to Syed's conviction.

They said: "There is an abundance of issues that gives the State overwhelming cause for concern.

"But after reviewing the evidence and the new information about alternative suspects, it is our duty to ensure that justice is done."

Prosecutors are continuing with their investigation.