Serial's Adnan getting a new hearing

There’s been a big update to Adnan Syed’s case. The subject of Serial‘s first season had his motion granted to reopen post-conviction proceedings, a Maryland judge ruled Friday.

There are two key elements of the new hearing. First: Asia McClain’s Jan. 13 affidavit and testimony, which provides a purported alibi for Syed, will be introduced. McClain might testify, and could be subject to cross-examination. Second: Evidence regarding the reliability of the cell phone towers and Syed’s lawyer’s failure to cross-examine the prosecution’s expert. Undisclosed, a podcast funded by the Adnan Syed Trust, made note of the towers; it was one of the show’s key findings.

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Syed was convicted of murdering his ex-girlfriend Hae Min Lee in 2000. Groundwork for a new hearing was laid in February, when Syed’s request for an appeal was granted. In May, the Maryland Court of Special Appeals ruled his trial attorney was “constitutionally ineffective,” opening the door for new evidence to be introduced.

No date has been set for Syed’s hearing.