A TV Special On Serial’s Adnan Syed Is Coming Out This Month Based On New Evidence
Here we go again.
It’s been nearly 18 months since Serial wrapped up its investigations into Adnan Syed (the then-teenager convicted of the murder of his ex-girlfriend Hae Min Lee), but there is still an incredibly dedicated following chasing answers. Reddit never switched out of full-detective mode. Books are coming out from both Undisclosed podcast host Rabia Chaudry and controversial alibi witness Asia McClain. Despite telling an intense new story which involved literally calling the Taliban, Serial host Sarah Koenig has been updating listeners with the real-time happenings in Syed’s ongoing appeals cases.
Now, the world has one more thing to creep out over: US documentary network Investigation Discovery has announced a new special based on Syed’s case. Airing in just a couple of weeks, Adnan Syed: Innocent or Guilty? will re-examine the story and delve into the new evidence currently being considered by the Maryland court to grant him a re-trial.
Led by ABC News journalist and legal analyst Ryan Smith, the show will feature interviews with friends of both Adnan and Hae Min Lee, Hae’s teacher who was the last to see her on campus, Adnan’s original attorney for bail, the President of the Islamic Society of Baltimore, and a juror from the original trial. While a lot of that isn’t so new, Smith will also have the first one-on-one talk with Syed’s current defence attorney Justin Brown. He’ll be speaking in-depth about new statements by alibi witness Asia McClain as well as new information about the infamous cellphone tower evidence (which was reportedly supposed to be thrown out from the first trial).
The TV network approached both Serial‘s Sarah Koenig and key witness Jay Wilds to be involved in the special, but told The Wrap that both couldn’t be involved due to “scheduling conflicts”.
This isn’t the first time Investigation Discovery have delved into a case which has gained notoriety through popular culture. Earlier this year, they ran a similar special on Making A Murderer‘s Steven Avery. It doesn’t look unlike something your mum would watch during the middle of the day with the curtains drawn.
Adnan Syed: Innocent or Guilty? will air in the US on June 14 and will probably be all over the internet shortly after.