What Happened To Adnan Syed's First Attorney, Cristina Gutierrez? Adnan Syed might not be getting a new trial, but even the courts agree Cristina Gutierrez didn't give him effective legal counsel. Oxygen Insider Exclusive! Create a free profile to get unlimited access to exclusive videos, breaking news, sweepstakes, and more!
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.”
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.
Erica J. SuterMr. Syed's lawyer, Erica J. Suter, indicated that her client was stunned to have walked out of prison after spending more than half his life behind bars. “He said he can't believe it's real,” Ms. Suter said at a news conference. “Today is both joyful and incredibly overwhelming.”
In 2001, Gutierrez was disbarred, with her consent, following multiple complaints from clients who paid her for legal work she failed to perform. At the time, Gutierrez was dying from multiple sclerosis and her health was rapidly deteriorating.
She was disbarred by consent. According to a 2001 article in the Baltimore Sun, clients made complaints against Gutierrez after she neglected to file their claims. Later, a commission found that she didn't put client money into a designated trust account.
Syed's first trial in 1999 ended with a mistrial. In 2000, a jury found him guilty of murder. The judge handed down life plus 30 years in prison at sentencing.
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.
One such issue is the story of Asia McClain, who said back then that she'd seen Syed at the library on the day prosecutors claimed that he murdered his former high school sweetheart, Lee.
How does Adnan feel about Cristina Gutierrez? He believes that she is trustworthy and is doing everything she can to help him, and he doesn't blame her for the mistrial.
What happened after Hae's body was discovered? Adnan called the detective to tell them that they mis-identified the body.
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?
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.
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.
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.
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.”.
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.
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.