Could you imagine being accused of murdering your high school girlfriend? Or better yet, could you imagine being in jail for 30 years over one man saying you committed the crime? At the age of 17, Adnan Syed was charged for being guilty of murdering his ex girlfriend, Hae Min Lee. His friend Jay Wilds stated in his testimony that he saw Hae’s body and Adnan forced him to help bury her. However another classmate, Asia McClain, stated that she saw him in the library at the time of the murder, so he couldn’t have done it. Now is it just me or does that not add up. Which one of them is lying and why would they lie about something as serious as murder?
In Sarah Koenig’s podcast, Serial, she is on a mission to put an end to Adnan’s case. She is in complete and utter disbelief that a man could be sentenced to 30 years in jail upon the accusal of first degree murder, all because of one man’s word. At the very end of the podcast Koenig comes to the conclusion that Adnan is guilty, but not because she has proved him guilty, but because there is a lack of evidence to prove him innocent. After listening to the first and last episode of Serial I truly do believe that Adnan is innocent.
When Sarah Koenig first went to take to Adnan she said his tone did not come off as scared, or as if he was hiding something. He was very calm and serious. He did not present himself to indicate that he is guilty. When Koenig told Adnan that Jay had turned him in, he said “That did not happen.” Koenig made a point of saying that Adnan could have said “it did not happen like that” or “that part didn’t happen”, but instead he clearly stated “It did not happen.” The fact that Adnan did not hesitate with his words and clearly spoke, made me think that he was innocent. He could be a good liar, or have thought out what he was going to say, but part of me believed he didn’t do it. That a high school football star and a guy that all his classmates love, was not capable of killing his ex high school sweetheart.
Asia McClain also reported that she had a long conversation with Adnan in the library that day. Within the conversation Adnan had explained why he and Hae had broken up, but all he wanted was the best for her and for her to be happy. They ended things on a good note and both agreed to continue their friendship. Asia stated that Adnan did not convey as restless, nor did he seem as though he could hurt someone, let alone someone who he had once loved. So for him to have committed first degree murder on that very same day did not feel true.
The people who know Adnan the best believe that he is innocent. Rabia Chaudry is one of Adnan’s best friend’s sister. She describes her opinion on Adnan’s conviction, “From the day he was taken from his bed in the pre-dawn hours of 26 February 1999 until today, he has maintained his innocence and I, and my family, have believed him” (The Guardian). The people who are closest to Adnan believe he is innocent, the people who know what he is capable of. These people know Adnan’s flaws and accept them for what they are, and even taking into consideration some of the worst things he has ever done they still believe he is innocent.
Throughout the podcast Koenig discuss that Adnan was not assigned a very strong attorney and he did not pick up on some very important details. According the Chaudry, Jay changed his original story that he testified with later on in the trial. He originally stated that they buried Hae at midnight, but later on in the trial he changed his story to say they buried Hae at around 7pm. The fact that Jay was unable to stick to the same story and change something as crucial as the time Hae was buried indicates that he is not a reliable source. Also, Adnan was claimed guilty of murdering Hae because of Jay’s testimony, but if Jay lied how accountable is his statement. Once again, this goes to show that Adnan is innocent because the only piece of evidence that put him in jail might not be a true statement.
In episode 12 of Serial, Sarah Koenig went through the trouble to get the DNA tested on Hae’s body and clothing. The DNA tests proved Adnan’s innocence as the only traces of his DNA were under the handle of Hae’s car, which did not justify anything because being in a relationship with Hae prior to her murder Adnan had been in Hae’s car plenty of times.
Lastly, in the final episode of Serial Koenig spoke about a man by the name of Ronald Lee Moore. A man that has committed many felonies that include, burglary, rape and being a cocaine addict (Heavy). This man was accidentally released from jail on January 1, 1999 and thirteen days later Hae was murdered. Ronald fled to Louisiana where he later killed himself, therefore it was not around to be questioned as a suspect. Now the question is, who is more legible to be a murderer, a 17 year old boy who only wanted what was best for this young girl, or a middle aged man who has been in trouble with the law before for serious offenses and was accidentally released from prison just days before Hae’s murder?
Henceforth, I believe that Adnan Syed is innocent and did not murder his ex girlfriend Hae Min Lee because of the lack of evidence that supports that he is guilty, unreliable sources like Jay Wilds, and more credible suspects such as Ronald Lee Moore.
Works Cited
Chaudry, Rabia. “Adnan Syed Is Innocent. Now Find Hae Min Lee’s Real Killer | Rabia Chaudry.” The Guardian. Guardian News and Media, 06 July 2016. Web. 28 July 2017.
“Click Here to Support Guilty Until Proven Innocent Organized by Adam Edward Weiker.” Gofundme.com. Web. 28 July 2017.
“Crossed Fingers.” Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 24 July 2017. Web. 28 July 2017.
“Guilt Posters and Art Prints.” Barewalls. Web. 28 July 2017.
Homefacts.com. “Ronald Lee Moore.” Ronald Lee Moore – Sex Offender in Middletown, OH 45042 – OH1540706. Web. 28 July 2017.
“Is Jay Wilds the Real Star of Serial?” The Speaker. 04 Jan. 2015. Web. 28 July 2017.
“Log In.” WordPress.com. Web. 28 July 2017.
Prince, S.J. “Ronald Lee Moore: 5 Fast Facts You Need To Know.” Heavy.com. 18 Dec. 2014. Web. 28 July 2017.
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