Next steps for Serial's Adnan Syed revealed as he is denied retrial by the courts

Adnan Syed will not be given a re-trial, the court have announced.

The prisoner – who is the subject of podcast Serial and a new HBO series – is still adamant that he didn't kill ex-girlfriend Hae Min Lee two decades after being convicted of her murder.

While his lawyer recently applied for a re-trial on the basis that he had received ineffective legal counsel during his original trial, the Maryland Court Of Appeals have now stated that they do not believe there is grounds to pick up the case again.

They reportedly agreed that his lawyers were deficient in investigating one of their alibi witnesses, but argued that this didn't damage his case enough to merit a new trial.

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Syed has been denied a re-trial (HBO)

Adnan Syed was convicted of murder (HBO)

Syed was accused of murdering his ex girlfriend (HBO)

The decision was made by four judges against three.

Despite being slapped with a life sentence and 30 years behind bars, the prisoner is still believed to be innocent by many.

After the decision, Syed's lawyer, Jusin Brown said that the case could end up going to the federal courts.

"I just spoke to Adnan. There is not an ounce of quit in him. I repeat: we will not give up. # FreeAdnan," he wrote after the announcement.

Syed has denied all charges against him (2019 Home Box Office)

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He went on to tell the Baltimore Sun that he was still hopeful about "at least three other avenues of relief".

Adnan Syed was sentenced to life in prison plus 30 years in February 2000, after being convicted of first degree murder, robbery, kidnap and false inprisonment.

The sentence came a year after his ex-girlfriend and school-mate Hae Min Lee was discovered buried in Baltimore park, aged just 17, having died of manual strangulation.

Police were said to have received an anonymous call suggesting that Syed was to blame for her murder.

In court, the prosecution claimed that Syed, then 18, had murdered his ex out of jealousy after she broke off their relationship – something he has always denied.

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