by Erica Suter | Mar 31, 2018 | Appeal, Collateral Relief, Criminal Defense, Post Conviction
It is our opinion that, if McClain’s testimony had been presented to the jury, it would have “alter[ed] the entire evidentiary picture,” because her testimony would have placed Syed at the Woodlawn Public Library at the time the State claimed that...
by Erica Suter | Jan 13, 2017 | Appeal, Collateral Relief, Criminal Defense, Motion to Correct Illegal Sentence
Under Maryland Rule 4-345(a) an illegal sentence may be corrected at any time. You file a Motion to Correct Illegal Sentence in the court where your trial or plea took place. It is typically ruled on by the judge who heard your case or the judge who inherits your...
by Erica Suter | Jul 4, 2016 | Appeal, Collateral Relief, Criminal Defense, Post Conviction, Uncategorized
The Post Conviction Court vacated Adnan Syed’s sentence and conviction on June 30, 2016. You can read more about the Court’s ruling here. So what happens next? Winning a post conviction is not the same as a not guilty verdict at the end of a trial. ...
by Erica Suter | Jul 4, 2016 | Collateral Relief, Criminal Defense, Post Conviction, Uncategorized
On June 30, 2016, the Circuit Court for Baltimore City granted relief in Adnan Syed v. State. You can read the Court’s 59 page Memorandum Opinion and Order at the end of this post. I’m going to attempt to bottom line the key points in the Court’s...
by Erica Suter | Feb 9, 2016 | Appeal, Collateral Relief, Criminal Defense, Post Conviction, Uncategorized
Most everyone has heard of the standard of proof in a criminal prosecution, “beyond a reasonable doubt.” It is the highest standard of proof in our legal system. It was the standard of proof that applied during Adnan Syed’s trial. The State was...