Judge Rules Adnan Syed to Remain Free Despite Upheld Murder Conviction

The judge noted that Syed’s post-release behavior demonstrated his “maturity and fitness required for a crime-free life outside of prison.”

Adnan Syed gets emotional as he speaks to reporters outside the Robert C. Murphy Courts of Appeal building after a hearing, in Annapolis, Md., on Feb. 2, 2023. Barbara Haddock Taylor/The Baltimore Sun via AP

Adnan Syed, whose murder case gained international attention through the “Serial” podcast, will remain free despite his murder conviction being upheld, as ruled by Baltimore Judge Jennifer Schiffer on Thursday.

Schiffer’s ruling reduces Syed’s sentence to time served, implementing a recent Maryland law that provides a pathway to release for individuals convicted of crimes committed as minors. The decision places Syed, now 43, on supervised probation for five years.