In a recent ruling, the highest court in Maryland has ordered a lower court to redo a hearing that had previously freed Adnan Syed, whose conviction for the murder of his former high school girlfriend, Hae Min Lee, gained widespread attention through the popular podcast "Serial." The decision comes after the Appellate Court of Maryland reinstated Syed's conviction, stating that the rights of the victim's brother, Young Lee, had been violated by a lower court.

Hae Min Lee was tragically killed by strangulation in 1999 at the age of 18. The murder took place while she was a student at Woodlawn High School in Baltimore County, Maryland. Adnan Syed had spent 23 years in prison, vigorously fighting the charges that he had committed the crime.

The Supreme Court of Maryland agreed with the Appellate Court's decision to reinstate Syed's conviction. In its opinion filed on Friday, the court acknowledged that the prosecutor had provided Young Lee with "less than one business day's notice" for the in-person hearing and had denied his request for a one-week postponement. The court ruled that Young Lee's rights as the crime victim's representative had been violated and therefore, the case must be remanded to the circuit court for further proceedings.

The 4-3 ruling by the Maryland Supreme Court means that Adnan Syed's murder conviction remains reinstated. However, the justices did not order any changes to Syed's release status, allowing him to remain free while the lower court decides on the conviction.

The Baltimore State's Attorney's Office released a statement saying that they are currently reviewing the decision and have no further comment at this time. Meanwhile, David Sanford, representing the family of Hae Min Lee, stated that they would support vacating Syed's conviction if there was compelling evidence to do so. Up until now, no such evidence has been presented, according to Sanford, warranting the overturning of a murder conviction that has withstood appeals for over two decades.

The decision by the Maryland Supreme Court marks the latest development in this long-running saga that has captivated audiences thanks to the "Serial" podcast. As the case progresses further, the spotlight remains on whether compelling evidence will emerge to either support or challenge Adnan Syed's conviction in the murder of Hae Min Lee.