Witness Takes Stand in 'Serial' Murder Case: Report

BALTIMORE, MD – More than 15 years after he was convicted of murdering his ex-girlfriend, Adnan Syed had his day in court to request an appeal.

Syed, 35, whose case was the focus of the first season of the popular podcast “Serial,” appeared in Baltimore City Circuit Court Wednesday to reopen his case.

In 2000, he was convicted of murdering his classmate and ex-girlfriend Hae Min Lee and sentenced to life in prison.

A former classmate of Syed and Lee at Woodlawn High School—Asia McClain—testified Wednesday that she had chatted with Syed at the time of the murder in the school’s library, and despite writing a letter to his attorney with that information, she said she never heard back, The Baltimore Sun reported.

It was not until ”Serial” aired and captured the curiosity of thousands of listeners that McClain said she realized “maybe it is important,” according to the account from The Sun.

Wednesday was the first of three days of hearings.

The hearings will cover whether cell phone data from the original case was unreliable evidence, and Syed’s attorney will also focus on whether his previous legal counsel was competent, ABC reported.

• Adnan Syed Has a Long Road in Appeals Process
• Serial’s Adnan Syed Wins Appeal
• Murder Conviction Appealed for Adnan Syed

Natalie Griffin of Capital News Service contributed.