Sophie Camplejohn, Grade 11
UWC Pearson
Growing up, I have religiously watched, read, and listened to detective tv shows, mystery novels, crime podcasts, and, of course, just about anything related to Sherlock Holmes. So, when Serial Podcast's season one was released, I quickly jumped on the bandwagon.
The 12 episodes detail the murder of high school senior, Hae Min Lee, who disappeared one day in Baltimore, Maryland, only to be found a month later, in a city park, strangled to death. Her ex-boyfriend and classmate, Adnan Syed, was quickly arrested for first-degree murder and charged to a lifetime in prison, yet, to this day, maintains his innocence (20 years later). Because homicides occur incessantly in Baltimore when the police are handed 'a murder case on a silver platter,' they are quick to accuse. (The Alibi, episode#1) However, the lack of physical evidence, gaps in the timeline, and unbiased opinions boil the case down to Adnan's word against Jay Wilds' (a friend of Adnan Syed's, who testified that he had helped Adnan bury Hae's body). Now, you may be wondering why I chose to write about a convicted murderer as someone I admire. In short, despite being sentenced to a lifetime in prison, plus thirty years, he remains hopeful, kind, and grateful toward the world. Adnan's life is like a modern Shakespeare play, filled with love, death, and lies. Yet, the scary part is that it is a reality. His ability to keep his head held high and persevere through all the adversity inspires me.
Although Adnan's kindness cannot prove nor deny his innocence, he was more than just some nice kid; he was "the golden child of the community". Adnan achieved everything from Prince of Junior Prom to honor roll to being a star track runner. He also led prayers at the mosque and was an EMT (Emergency Medical Technician). Adnan stood up against bullies. Ali, a classmate of his, explains, Adnan "would always have my back… like an older brother. I'll never forget that." Adnan's kindness has a profound impact on others. Even in prison, he continues his charm with only one infraction, due to a hidden cell phone. Jay's story paints Adnan as a psychopath, who premeditated the murder of his ex-girlfriend, yet his compassion throughout high school and his present life support his innocence.
Not only was Adnan kind himself, but no one suspected anything of Hae and Adnan's relationship, even after they broke up. In fact, Hae and Adnan continued to be friends afterwards. No one thought Adnan was abusive, according to Becky Cline, one of Hae's closest friends, it was "just a silly, teenage, high school relationship... I don't really remember anything weird or anything that stands out." Adnan was always kind to Hae. The night of Prom, Hae expresses in her diary that she is "falling deeper and deeper in (love with) him." Hae Min Lee's first impression of Adnan was that "he's the sweetest guy." The state claims that Adnan felt enraged that Hae broke up with him after sacrificing his Muslim background for her. However, Adnan smoked weed, partied, and was a player among girls as well, demonstrating a lack of intensity in his Muslim faith and therefore a lack of motive to kill. Saad Chaudry, Adnan's best friend, perfectly captures Adnan's real frustration in high school; "If Adnan is guilty of anything, it's of being a normal kid with immigrant parents." His rash actions in high school are simply the result of a strict household and not due to murderous qualities.
Adnan's goodwill continues to shine on despite the circumstances. He cooks in prison, got elected Inmate Council and is known as "a stand-up guy". At the beginning of his trial, Adnan exchanges letters with a friend, Krista, writing happily about his experiences in prison and showing curiosity in her life as well. At one point, he writes to Krista, "You know I have been blessed in that I can make friends almost anywhere I go. Now I can really say anywhere." In light of his situation, Adnan's optimism has given him a life in prison. He considers himself lucky compared to other inmates. His family visits regularly, they call him and send him money. His gratefulness depicts charisma that Jay's version of Adnan lacks.
To elaborate further, I would like to establish that although I cannot say with full confidence that Adnan is innocent, I can confidently say that he was wrongly convicted. Because of the inconsistencies in Jay's story, the police's contamination of his testimony, and Adnan's empathetic character, he deserves a retrial. As someone who one daydreams of becoming a criminal defense attorney, the injustice present in the incarceration system in the U.S is palpable and disappointing. To many, Adnan Syed's case is one of the biggest examples of injustice in the judicial system in the U.S. To me, it is horrifying to think that if he is innocent, his future along with his body is slowly rotting in jail unjustly. In 2016, the Maryland Court of Special Appeals found that Syed had received ineffective legal counsel for not calling Asia McClain, who hung out with Adnan at the time of the murder. He was granted a retrial by Baltimore City Circuit Court, which was upheld on March 29, 2019, by the Maryland Court of Special Appeals. However, a year later, the state's highest court rejected the lower court's decision by a 4-3 vote, denying Syed a retrial. It asserted that, regardless of the shortcomings of Syed's original legal counsel, the recent evidence being presented wouldn't have altered the jury's decision. The Supreme Court also declined to hear the appeal of Adnan Syed. His fight for his life is one that is not only awe-inspiring but eye-opening of humans' capabilities. I never hope that I am placed in a similar situation to Adnan. However, I do hope that I will be able to meet his standards of kindness, optimism and perseverance, as well as be able to fight for those who deserve justice and a fair trial.
If you would like to read further on Adnan's case, and why I, personally, believe he is innocent, click here.
The 12 episodes detail the murder of high school senior, Hae Min Lee, who disappeared one day in Baltimore, Maryland, only to be found a month later, in a city park, strangled to death. Her ex-boyfriend and classmate, Adnan Syed, was quickly arrested for first-degree murder and charged to a lifetime in prison, yet, to this day, maintains his innocence (20 years later). Because homicides occur incessantly in Baltimore when the police are handed 'a murder case on a silver platter,' they are quick to accuse. (The Alibi, episode#1) However, the lack of physical evidence, gaps in the timeline, and unbiased opinions boil the case down to Adnan's word against Jay Wilds' (a friend of Adnan Syed's, who testified that he had helped Adnan bury Hae's body). Now, you may be wondering why I chose to write about a convicted murderer as someone I admire. In short, despite being sentenced to a lifetime in prison, plus thirty years, he remains hopeful, kind, and grateful toward the world. Adnan's life is like a modern Shakespeare play, filled with love, death, and lies. Yet, the scary part is that it is a reality. His ability to keep his head held high and persevere through all the adversity inspires me.
Although Adnan's kindness cannot prove nor deny his innocence, he was more than just some nice kid; he was "the golden child of the community". Adnan achieved everything from Prince of Junior Prom to honor roll to being a star track runner. He also led prayers at the mosque and was an EMT (Emergency Medical Technician). Adnan stood up against bullies. Ali, a classmate of his, explains, Adnan "would always have my back… like an older brother. I'll never forget that." Adnan's kindness has a profound impact on others. Even in prison, he continues his charm with only one infraction, due to a hidden cell phone. Jay's story paints Adnan as a psychopath, who premeditated the murder of his ex-girlfriend, yet his compassion throughout high school and his present life support his innocence.
Not only was Adnan kind himself, but no one suspected anything of Hae and Adnan's relationship, even after they broke up. In fact, Hae and Adnan continued to be friends afterwards. No one thought Adnan was abusive, according to Becky Cline, one of Hae's closest friends, it was "just a silly, teenage, high school relationship... I don't really remember anything weird or anything that stands out." Adnan was always kind to Hae. The night of Prom, Hae expresses in her diary that she is "falling deeper and deeper in (love with) him." Hae Min Lee's first impression of Adnan was that "he's the sweetest guy." The state claims that Adnan felt enraged that Hae broke up with him after sacrificing his Muslim background for her. However, Adnan smoked weed, partied, and was a player among girls as well, demonstrating a lack of intensity in his Muslim faith and therefore a lack of motive to kill. Saad Chaudry, Adnan's best friend, perfectly captures Adnan's real frustration in high school; "If Adnan is guilty of anything, it's of being a normal kid with immigrant parents." His rash actions in high school are simply the result of a strict household and not due to murderous qualities.
Adnan's goodwill continues to shine on despite the circumstances. He cooks in prison, got elected Inmate Council and is known as "a stand-up guy". At the beginning of his trial, Adnan exchanges letters with a friend, Krista, writing happily about his experiences in prison and showing curiosity in her life as well. At one point, he writes to Krista, "You know I have been blessed in that I can make friends almost anywhere I go. Now I can really say anywhere." In light of his situation, Adnan's optimism has given him a life in prison. He considers himself lucky compared to other inmates. His family visits regularly, they call him and send him money. His gratefulness depicts charisma that Jay's version of Adnan lacks.
To elaborate further, I would like to establish that although I cannot say with full confidence that Adnan is innocent, I can confidently say that he was wrongly convicted. Because of the inconsistencies in Jay's story, the police's contamination of his testimony, and Adnan's empathetic character, he deserves a retrial. As someone who one daydreams of becoming a criminal defense attorney, the injustice present in the incarceration system in the U.S is palpable and disappointing. To many, Adnan Syed's case is one of the biggest examples of injustice in the judicial system in the U.S. To me, it is horrifying to think that if he is innocent, his future along with his body is slowly rotting in jail unjustly. In 2016, the Maryland Court of Special Appeals found that Syed had received ineffective legal counsel for not calling Asia McClain, who hung out with Adnan at the time of the murder. He was granted a retrial by Baltimore City Circuit Court, which was upheld on March 29, 2019, by the Maryland Court of Special Appeals. However, a year later, the state's highest court rejected the lower court's decision by a 4-3 vote, denying Syed a retrial. It asserted that, regardless of the shortcomings of Syed's original legal counsel, the recent evidence being presented wouldn't have altered the jury's decision. The Supreme Court also declined to hear the appeal of Adnan Syed. His fight for his life is one that is not only awe-inspiring but eye-opening of humans' capabilities. I never hope that I am placed in a similar situation to Adnan. However, I do hope that I will be able to meet his standards of kindness, optimism and perseverance, as well as be able to fight for those who deserve justice and a fair trial.
If you would like to read further on Adnan's case, and why I, personally, believe he is innocent, click here.
Bibliography:
Serial, "The Deal With Jay," episode 8, WBEZ, first broadcast October 3, 2014, hosted by Sara Koenig.
Serial, "The Alibi," episode 1, WBEZ, first broadcast October 3, 2014, hosted by Sara Koenig.
Serial, "Rumors," episode 11, WBEZ, first broadcast October 3, 2014, hosted by Sara Koenig.
Serial, "The Breakup," episode 2, WBEZ, first broadcast October 3, 2014, hosted by Sara Koenig.
Serial, "To Be Suspected," episode 9, WBEZ, first broadcast October 3, 2014, hosted by Sara Koenig.
Detective Ritz, interview, Baltimore, MD, February 28, 1999.
Miller, "The Autopsy," Law Profesor Blog Network.
Everett, "5 key findings," [Page #]
Natasha Vargas-Cooper, "EXCLUSIVE: JAY, KEY WITNESS FROM ‘SERIAL’ TELLS HIS STORY FOR FIRST TIME, PART 1," The Intercept, December 29, 2014, [Page #], accessed September 24, 2018, https://theintercept.com/2014/12/29/exclusive-interview
-jay-wilds-star-witness-adnan-syed-serial-case-pt-1/.
"Quick Reference for Photos related to Adnan Syed’s case," The Undisclosed Wiki, https://www.adnansyedwiki.com/photos/.
Colin Miller, "The Possible Significance of the Missing Ignition Collar in Hae Min Lee's Nissan Sentra," Law Profesor Blog Network, entry posted March 27, 2015, http://lawprofessors.typepad.com/evidenceprof/2015/03/from-the-list-of-the-photo-exhibits-of-
statein-the-trial-of-adnan-syed-for-murdering-hae-min-lee-as-you-can-see-the-seco.html.
Serial, "The Deal With Jay," episode 8, WBEZ, first broadcast October 3, 2014, hosted by Sara Koenig.
Serial, "The Alibi," episode 1, WBEZ, first broadcast October 3, 2014, hosted by Sara Koenig.
Serial, "Rumors," episode 11, WBEZ, first broadcast October 3, 2014, hosted by Sara Koenig.
Serial, "The Breakup," episode 2, WBEZ, first broadcast October 3, 2014, hosted by Sara Koenig.
Serial, "To Be Suspected," episode 9, WBEZ, first broadcast October 3, 2014, hosted by Sara Koenig.
Detective Ritz, interview, Baltimore, MD, February 28, 1999.
Miller, "The Autopsy," Law Profesor Blog Network.
Everett, "5 key findings," [Page #]
Natasha Vargas-Cooper, "EXCLUSIVE: JAY, KEY WITNESS FROM ‘SERIAL’ TELLS HIS STORY FOR FIRST TIME, PART 1," The Intercept, December 29, 2014, [Page #], accessed September 24, 2018, https://theintercept.com/2014/12/29/exclusive-interview
-jay-wilds-star-witness-adnan-syed-serial-case-pt-1/.
"Quick Reference for Photos related to Adnan Syed’s case," The Undisclosed Wiki, https://www.adnansyedwiki.com/photos/.
Colin Miller, "The Possible Significance of the Missing Ignition Collar in Hae Min Lee's Nissan Sentra," Law Profesor Blog Network, entry posted March 27, 2015, http://lawprofessors.typepad.com/evidenceprof/2015/03/from-the-list-of-the-photo-exhibits-of-
statein-the-trial-of-adnan-syed-for-murdering-hae-min-lee-as-you-can-see-the-seco.html.
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