Adnan Syed's murder conviction reinstated in surprising turn of events

The Maryland Court of Appeals has reinstated the conviction of Adnan Syed, who was previously convicted of the murder of his ex-girlfriend Hae Min Lee in 1999. Syed's case gained national attention following the Serial podcast in 2014, which raised questions about his guilt and the fairness of his trial.

The ruling on Monday overturned a lower court's decision to grant Syed a new trial based on the ineffective assistance of his trial attorney. The Maryland Court of Appeals stated that Syed's attorney's performance did not prejudice his defense, and therefore did not violate his right to a fair trial.

Syed, now 42 years old, has been serving a life sentence since his 2000 conviction. His case gained international attention due to the popularity of the Serial podcast, which raised questions about the reliability of witness testimony and the lack of physical evidence linking Syed to the crime.

Syed's legal team plans to appeal the decision to the US Supreme Court, arguing that his right to a fair trial was violated. They also claim that the ruling sets a dangerous precedent for criminal defendants who may not receive adequate legal representation.