The case of Maryland’s Adnan Syed drew national attention last
year when it was the focus of Serial, considered the world’s most
popular podcast and the medium’s first breakout hit. Syed was convicted
of killing his ex-girlfriend in 1999 and has been serving a life
sentence. His legal team argues prosecutors failed to interview an alibi
witness and that his lawyer failed to inquire about a possible plea
deal. Serial became the first-ever podcast to win a Peabody Award for
its in-depth look at the case, exploring potential flaws with both the
prosecution and with Syed’s defense. After two unsuccessful attempts to
appeal his conviction, the Maryland Court of Special Appeals agreed in
February to hear arguments about why Syed should get a new trial, based
on the contention he had ineffective counsel. A hearing is set for June
9.
Transcript
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AMY GOODMAN: This is Democracy Now!, democracynow.org, The War and Peace Report.
I’m Amy Goodman. Our guest is Douglas Colbert, an attorney and
professor of law at the University of Maryland School of Law. I want to
turn right now to the case of Adnan Syed, and we just have a minute.
But, of course, it drew national attention when it was the focus of Serial, considered the most popular podcast ever and podcasting’s first breakout hit. It’s the first-ever podcast to win a Peabody Award.Adnan Syed was convicted of killing his girlfriend in 1999, has been serving a life sentence. His legal team argues prosecutors failed to interview an alibi witness and that his lawyer failed to inquire about a possible plea deal. The Serial podcast provided an in-depth look at the case and explored potential flaws with both the prosecution and with Syed’s defense. In February, the Maryland Court of Special Appeals agreed to hear arguments about why Adnan should either get a new trial—he is now seeking a new trial based on the contention he had ineffective counsel.
You were his bail hearing attorney. Can you talk about the significance of the court’s ruling and what will happen in June?
DOUGLAS COLBERT: Yes, Chris Flohr and I represented Mr. Syed for the first 30 to 35 days after his arrest, and we represented him at two bail hearings. The purpose of ordering his release would have made a tremendous difference, in my opinion, at the trial itself. And had the judge accepted the fact that there were 60 to 70 people from his community who were in court to vouch for his credibility and his appearance in the future—
