The convicted killer featured on the popular 'Serial ' podcast filed a brief Monday with the Maryland Court of Special Appeals stating the case for why his conviction should be overturned . Adnan Syed , 34 , was convicted of strangling his high school sweetheart Hae Min Lee in 1999 and has been serving a life sentence since 2000 . He was 17 at the time of Lee 's death . The lawyer for Syed is arguing his client should be granted a new trial because his former attorney , Christina Gutierrez , made mistakes that were 'deeper than the typical error or omission ' . Scroll down for video . Adnan Syed , the subject of Serial , was convicted of strangling his high school sweetheart Hae Min Lee in 1999 . Syed , who was 17 at the time of Lee 's ( right ) death , has been serving a life sentence since 2000 and is now 34 . Maryalnd Court of Special Appeals agreed to hear Syed 's appeal in February after two unsuccessful attempts . Syed 's new lawyer Justin Brown claims Gutierrez failed to interview an alibi witness and never inquired about the possibility of a plea deal . Gutierrez , who was disbarred by consent after questions arose about her handling of client funds , died 12 years ago amid legal and health problems , the Baltimore Sun reported . In the filing , Brown wrote : 'The errors by trial counsel were of such a fundamental nature that Syed must be given a new trial . 'The circumstances here are worse than the circumstances of any other case in which a court has found ineffective assistance of counsel relating to an alibi issue . ' The basis of Syed 's appeal is that Gutierrez failed to interview Asia McClain , a student at Syed 's school who said she was with him in the library at the approximate time of Lee 's death . McClain had written to Syed after his arrest offering to speak with investigators and his attorney . In her letters , McClain also mentioned two other witnesses who said they saw Syed at the library . Gutierrez never interviewed McClain nor called her as a witness . Serial , which was hosted by radio producer Sarah Koenig ( above ) , was downloaded more than 40 million times . Syed 's lawyer filed a brief with the Maryland Court of Special Appeals arguing for his conviction to be tossed . Brown wrote in the 31-page filing : 'It is hard to imagine that Gutierrez could have done anything worse than failing to pick up the phone and call Syed 's witness . ' He also argues Gutierrez told Syed that prosecutors would not offer him a plea deal , but never inquired if one was even on the table . The appeals attorney wrote : 'It not only violates something fundamental to the trial process , but it violates the duty of loyalty that is at the heart of attorney-client relationship . 'His lawyer effectively stopped representing him . ' Serial raised questions about the integrity of the case against Syed , the fairness of the trial and his guilt . The 12-episode podcast , which was hosted by This American Life producer Sarah Koenig , was downloaded more than 40 million times . The Court of Special Appeals agreed to hear Syed 's appeal in February after two unsuccessful attempts . The attorney general 's office , which is prosecuting the case , declined to comment Monday . Oral arguments are expected to be scheduled for June .
Adnan Syed convicted of killing high school girlfriend Hae Min Lee in 1999 . He 's been in prison serving life sentence since 2000 , but claims innocence . Maryland Court of Special Appeals agreed to hear his case in February . Claims lawyer did n't interview key witness or investigate plea deal chance . Comment: