who was adnon syed lawyer

by Dr. Colin Champlin Jr. 10 min read

Cristina Gutierrez

Who was Adnan Syed’s first lawyer?

Who Was Adnan Syed's First Lawyer, Cristina Gutierrez? In 2014, Adnan Syed 's controversial case became a national sensation when Serial was released—fourteen years after he was convicted of murdering his girlfriend, Hae Min Lee, and sentenced to life in prison.

Who is Adnan Syed and what did he do?

Adnan Syed is a Muslim-American man who was convicted of murdering his ex-girlfriend Hae Min Lee in 1999.

Was Adnan Syed's evidence inadmissible in court?

A lawyer representing Adnan Syed, the Baltimore convicted murderer whose case was profiled in the popular podcast Serial, says evidence that helped send his client to jail was inadmissible.

Did Syed’s previous attorney notify the Court of this fact?

Had Syed’s previous attorney Cristina Gutierrez notified the court of this fact, Brown is claiming, the evidence may have never made it into Syed’s 2000 trial. Get push notifications with news, features and more.

image

Who is the lawyer for Adnan Syed?

Although Syed's lawyer Cristina Gutierrez didn't make an appearance on the first season of “Serial,” which questioned whether Syed was wrongfully convicted for Lee's murder all those years ago, Gutierrez's voice was heard over and over as host Sarah Koenig played back tapes of Syed's original court case, questioning Gutierrez's job performance. Now, HBO’s four-part docuseries “The Case Against Adnan Syed” which premiered on March 10, two days after Syed's conviction was upheld, picks up right where “Serial” left off. Much like the podcast, the Amy Berg-directed film also reexamines Gutierrez's role in Syed's original conviction. So, in the midst of all this speculation over her handling of the case, where is Gutierrez now?

When did the case against Adnan Syed air?

Now, HBO’s four-part docuseries “The Case Against Adnan Syed” which premiered on March 10, two days after Syed's conviction was upheld, picks up right where “Serial” left off. Much like the podcast, the Amy Berg-directed film also reexamines Gutierrez's role in Syed's original conviction.

Why was Gutierrez disbarred?

However, in 2001, a year after Syed’s conviction, Gutierrez was disbarred following allegations she drained a trust account containing client funds , according to The Baltimore Sun. She died three years later.

When was Syed's murder conviction upheld?

However, Syed saw his murder conviction upheld on Friday, March 8 after Maryland's highest court disagreed that Gutierrez prejudiced the case during the original trial proceedings.

Did Gutierrez mishandle his case?

Syed has long maintained that Gutierrez mishandled his case over her failure to investigate his alibi Asia McClain, who claimed she saw Syed in her high school library at the time of the murder. Syed claimed Gutierrez told him at the time that she had investigated the alibi, but “nothing came of it.”.

Who defended everyone from allegedly corrupt city officials to accused kid killers to serial child molesters to teachers?

Gutierrez defended everyone from allegedly corrupt city officials to accused kid killers to serial child molesters to teachers charged with sexually assaulting their students. “ [Gutierrez] had a tremendous reputation,” Petit told Oxygen.com.

Did Gutierrez cross-examine the prosecution?

Syed’s attorneys also allege Gutierrez didn’t cross-examine the prosecution’s cell phone tower expert, who placed him at the crime scene using cell phone tower records, which Syed's team now argues is unreliable evidence.

Who was Syed's lawyer?

Syed claimed that his attorney at the time, Cristina Gutierrez, did not look into an alibi witness, Asia McClain, who said she was with Syed at Woodlawn High School's library at the time of the murder. In addition to McClain, Syed's appeals lawyer also brought into consideration the unreliability of the cell tower records evidence from ...

Who is the advocate of Adnan Syed?

His advocate, family friend and lawyer Rabia Chaudry, launched her own podcast entitled "Undisclosed: The State vs. Adnan Syed" and also published a book Adnan's Story: The Search for Truth and Justice After Serial (2016).

Who Is Adnan Syed?

Adnan Syed was convicted of murdering his ex-girlfriend Hae Min Lee in 1999. At the time of her murder, both Syed and Lee were seniors at Woodlawn High School in Baltimore. Lee disappeared on January 13, 1999, and her half-buried body was found one month later in a nearby city park. The cause of her death was manual strangulation. In February 2000, Syed was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison with an additional 30 years. Syed has always maintained his innocence. In 2014 his case was revisited by journalist and radio personality Sarah Koenig on the podcast "Serial" — which placed doubt on his guilty verdict — and was catapulted into the international spotlight. In June 2016 Syed was granted a retrial by a Baltimore city circuit court judge, and in March 2018 the Maryland Court of Special Appeals upheld that decision. However, on March 8, 2019, the Maryland Court of Appeals denied Syed a new trial.

Why did Syed kill Lee?

According to Wilds, Syed was angry that Lee had broken up with him and murdered her out of revenge. The other piece of evidence that helped the prosecution's case included cell tower records, which had confirmed some of Wilds' timeline of how events occurred.

How long was Syed in jail?

Although Syed maintained his innocence, he was convicted in February 2000 of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison plus 30 years.

When was Adnan Syed retried?

Adnan Syed following the completion of the first day of hearings for a retrial in Baltimore on February 3, 2016.

What is the HBO documentary about Adnan Syed?

In March 2019, HBO also launched a four-part documentary entitled The Case Against Ad nan Syed, based on the case's evolution since its broadcast on "Serial.".

Who represented Laurie Susanne Cook?

In 1993, Gutierrez represented Laurie Susanne Cook, Anne Arundel, Maryland school teacher who was accused of sexually abusing a 14-year-old male student. Cook was 33 at the time. "We're vehemently denying the charges," Gutierrez told the Baltimore Sun. "It's not unusual... in the context of the hysteria at Northeast, to have created an accusation out of nothing." The hysteria she's referring to is the case of Walter Price, a 49-year-old Social Studies teacher who was convicted of sexually abusing a student at the very same school just a few months earlier. Cook was ultimately acquitted, but subsequently lost her job in 1995.

Who sued Gutierrez?

As Koenig discussed in Thursdays episode, the Whitmans were among the former clients who ultimately sued Gutierrez for misplaced funds. Ron and Sue Whitman hired Gutierrez to defend their son in 2000, in a horrifically tragic case; their older of their two boys, Zach, was charged with killing his 13-year-old brother Greg, by stabbing him 65 times in the neck with a pen knife. Halfway through the trial, Ron and Sue fired Cristina. In 2003, Whitman was convicted to life in prison. The latest of his numerous appeals throughout the years took place in January of this year, which he lost.

Who was Sandra Craig's son?

Sandra & Jamal Craig. Back in 1986, Gutierrez defended Sandra Craig, owner and operator a Clarksville pre-school, was charged with 53 counts of child abuse, molestation and child pornography. Her 16-year-old son Jamal, who worked at the school, was charged with 8 counts of molestation, including the rape of a 6-year-old girl, ...

Who did McClain write to after Syed was arrested?

Syed had given the letters to his original defense attorney, Cristina Gutierrez. But Gutierrez never contacted McClain and she never got to testify at his trial that she was with him until about 2:40 p.m. the day Lee disappeared.

Who helped Syed bury Lee?

At Syed’s 2000 trial, Syed acquaintance Jay Wilds testified that Syed showed him Lee’s body in the trunk of Lee’s car, and that he helped Syed bury Lee in Leakin Park around 7 p.m. the night of January 13, 1999, about four-and-a-half hours after Syed allegedly strangled her.

Why didn't Chaudry do DNA testing?

Chaudry suspects they didn’t do this and other DNA testing because the results would show Syed had no involvement with Lee’s murder.

How long did it take for Chaudry to write an affidavit?

Chaudry asked McClain to write an affidavit describing what happened. It took 16 years before McClain testified in court.

What is the book Adnan's Story about?

She now has written a book, Adnan’s Story: The Search for Truth and Justice After Serial, in which she questions the innocence of Don Clinedinst, Lee’s boyfriend at the time of her death, and lays out new details that she believes exonerate Syed.

Did the judge grant Syed a new trial?

While the judge did not grant Syed’s new trial due to McClain’s testimony at the post-conviction hearing, Chaudry believes McClain will still help his case when there is a retrial and a jury hears that McClain was with Syed during the time the state argues Lee was killed.

Who killed Hae Min Lee?

Image. Credit: Eric Ogden. After the 2014 podcast Serial became a worldwide sensation, many were left doubting that convicted murderer Adnan Syed was guilty of killing former high school girlfriend Hae Min Lee in 1999, when Syed was 17. The Syed family friend who brought the case to the attention of Serial producer Sarah Koenig is certain they got ...

Lifestyle

Billie Eilish Ditches Her Blonde Hair for Brunette Tresses: 'Miss Me?'

Podcasts

"Even though we cleared my calendar for the day, I was still on the phone. There was no resting, you just kept on going," Tammy Duckworth says on an episode of PEOPLE's podcast Me Becoming Mom

Who is the lead author of the Adnan Syed brief?

The lead author of the brief is Elaine J. Goldenberg of Munger , Tolles & Olson. You can read the brief HERE. September 17, 2019.

Where is the Syed case appealed to?

The briefs are all in for what is probably the final appeal of the Syed case — to the Maryland Court of Appeals , the highest court in the state. You can read our filling, which addresses the cell tower issue, HERE.

Which court in Maryland upheld the trial court order granting Adnan Syed a new trial?

The Court of Appeals of Maryland — the highest court in the state — has agreed to review the decision of the Court of Special Appeals (which upheld the trial court order granting Adnan Syed a new trial). The Court of Appeals will consider both issues that were before the lower courts: the alibi issue and the cell tower issue.

Why do we care about what an Alabama court is saying?

Why do we care about what an Alabama court is saying? The reason relates to the argument initially set forth by a dissenting judge from the Court of Special Appeals, and now adopted by the State in the current appeal. The dissenting judge, and now the State, have argued that another Alabama case, Broadnax v. State, 130 So. 3d 1232 (Ala. Crim. App. 2013), should guide the Court of Appeals as it deliberates on the alibi issue. Broadnax is a case that contains some reasoning not favorable to Syed.

Why is each brief accompanied by a motion asking the court for leave to file?

Because the rule governing motions for reconsideration does not address whether amicus briefs can be considered at this stage , each brief is accompanied by a motion asking the court for leave to file. The Court has not yet ruled on these motions.

When was the Gissendanner oral argument?

The timing of Gissendanner is important because it comes while the Maryland Court of Appeals is deliberating. Oral arguments were held on November 29, 2018. We are now waiting to see what the Court of Appeals will decide. (There is no precise timetable for when the court will announce its ruling.)

Did Adnan Syed get a new trial?

The past year was a disappointing stretch for Adnan Syed. The Maryland Court of Appeals, the state’s highest court, reversed the granting of a new trial and reinstated Syed’s conviction. Our appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court was denied.

image

Who Is Adnan Syed?

Image
Adnan Syed was convicted of murdering his ex-girlfriend Hae Min Lee in 1999. At the time of her murder, both Syed and Lee were seniors at Woodlawn High School in Baltimore. Lee disappeared on January 13, 1999, and her half-buried body was found one month later in a nearby city park. The cause of her death was manual s…
See more on biography.com

Relationship with Hae Min Lee

  • Just like Syed, Lee was popular at school. She was a member of the lacrosse and field hockey team, managed the boy's wrestling team, and had dreams of being an optician. She and Syed kept their relationship a secret from their conservative immigrant families, but eventually, the secrecy frustrated Lee, which was what purportedly drove a wedge between them. After they broke up, L…
See more on biography.com

Hae Min Lee's Murder

  • On January 13, 1999, Korean-American high school student Hae Min Lee, 18, was reported missing by her family after failing to come home. Four weeks later, her half-buried body was found at Leakin Park by a passerby. According to autopsy reports, she died of manual strangulation. READ MORE: A Complete Timeline of Adnan Syed's Trial, Appeal and Killing of Hae Min Lee
See more on biography.com

Arrest, Trial and Conviction

  • After a police investigation, in which Syed's friend Jay Wilds confessed he had helped Syed bury Lee's body, Syed was arrested on February 28, 1999, and charged with kidnapping and murdering Lee. Although prosecutors couldn't offer any physical evidence against Syed, they used Wilds' testimony along with the testimony of a corroborating witness, Jennifer Pusateri, who claimed t…
See more on biography.com

Appeals

  • Starting in 2003, Syed appealed his case but to no avail. He appealed again in 2010, but this time on the basis of "ineffective assistance of counsel." Syed claimed that his attorney at the time, Cristina Gutierrez, did not look into an alibi witness, Asia McClain, who said she was with Syed at Woodlawn High School's library at the time of the murder. In addition to McClain, Syed's appeals …
See more on biography.com

Adnan Syed in The Media

  • Thanks to the worldwide popularity of "Serial," Syed's case has captured public interest and spawned a plethora of media projects. His advocate, family friend and lawyer Rabia Chaudry, launched her own podcast entitled "Undisclosed: The State vs. Adnan Syed" and also published a book Adnan's Story: The Search for Truth and Justice After Serial(2016). McClain produced her …
See more on biography.com

Family Life

  • Not much has been reported on Syed's biography or family in detail. Syed was born on May 21, 1981, in Baltimore, Maryland to conservative Muslim parents, Shamim and Syed Rahman. As the middle child, Syed is one of three sons, the oldest being Tanveer and the younger being Yusuf. At Woodlawn High School, Syed was popular and a straight-A student. He was the homecoming kin…
See more on biography.com