Plot Synopsis

Directed by Amy Berg, THE CASE AGAINST ADNAN SYED is a four-hour documentary series that explores the 1999 disappearance and murder of 18-year-old Baltimore County high school student Hae Min Lee, and the subsequent conviction of her ex-boyfriend, Adnan Syed, a case brought to global attention by the "Serial" podcast. In production since 2015, this followup to the case closely re-examines the events leading up to Hae Min Lee's disappearance, from high school romance, forbidden love and cultural conflict, to the aftermath of her disappearance, the original police investigation and the present day, when Syed awaits a new trial. Presenting new discoveries, as well as groundbreaking revelations that challenge the state's case, and featuring exclusive access to Syed, the defense team, the Syed family, friends and teachers of Hae Min Lee and Adnan Syed, and members of City of Baltimore law enforcement, the series traces how the rush to justice and Syed's conviction in 2000 raised more questions than answers about what happened to Hae Min Lee, underscoring the instability of memory and conflicting eyewitnesses. In June 2016, Baltimore Circuit Court Judge Martin P. Welch vacated Adnan Syed's conviction and granted him a new trial after new evidence challenged the reliability of cell phone data linking Syed to the crime scene, and a long-awaited alibi witness finally had her day in court. The State of Maryland appealed the lower court judge's ruling, but on March 29, 2018, the Court of Special Appeals also ruled to vacate Syed's conviction and granted him the retrial he has been waiting for. THE CASE AGAINST ADNAN SYED premieres Sunday, March 10, 2019 at 9pm ET/PT on HBO.
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On Sunday, March 31, 2019 at 9pm ET/PT, HBO premiered the finale of THE CASE AGAINST ADNAN SYED. In the final installment, "Time Is the Killer," despite being granted a new trial, Adnan Syed and his attorneys contend with the State's repeated appeals, while a competitive primary race for Baltimore City State's Attorney has the potential to affect the case's future. Private investigators grapple with outstanding questions as they re-analyze the forensic evidence surrounding Hae Min Lee's death and Syed faces a major decision as his 20th year in prison approaches. On March 8, 2019, the Court of Appeals issues a new ruling to reverse both lower court decisions and deny him a new trial.