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SERIAL discussions and theories! **May contain spoilers**

88 replies

KeatsieMincePie · 11/12/2014 16:14

A place to put forth our questions and theories without worrying about spoilers for those who are not caught up Grin

For anyone interested in, here are links to the Serial SubReddit and the Slate.com podcasts-about-the-Serial-podcasts and the many other podcasts from This American Life.

OP posts:
newrecruit · 18/12/2014 22:48

So infuriating, but I suppose the only way it could end.

I'm undecided.

ElizaPickford · 19/12/2014 10:01

What I don't get is why weren't the samples from Hae DNA tested at the time? I know we're going back 15 years but they were using DNA in '99 weren't they? Also, I might have forgotten but did the autopsy not come up with a time of death? Or did the ice storm (and presumable freezing of the body) affect what they could work out?

I dunno, so many questions. It is gobsmacking that Adnan was convicted on only circumstantial evidence. I have to admit though, my gut instinct when I first heard Adnan talking about the murder in one of the first episodes, was that he had done it. Something about that slightly goofy inflection at the end of his sentences, and his tone in general didn't ring true for me, but obviously that is just a feeling of mine based on nothing tangible. I almost swung away from thinking he did it a couple of times, but ultimately I come back to thinking that he probably did. And I think Jay was involved as well, and I can't understand why he didn't do time when he actually admitted to being an accessory and helping to dispose of the body. And he must have been involved to know about the car.

Like it said in the podcast - how unlucky would you have to be for all of those things to come together on the day a girl goes missing and turns up murdered? It does seem incredible.

I wonder when the DNA testing will be done, and whether the Serial website will be updated with that info?

PTAblues · 19/12/2014 10:55

It was very good last night. I think SK summarised all the nagging things I have. What where Jay and Adnan doing that day? They were both up to something either separately or individually because none of it adds up.
I have to admit though, my gut instinct when I first heard Adnan talking about the murder in one of the first episodes, was that he had done it.
Eliza I agree with you. For me it was when he was explaining to SK something along the lines of 'How could people think I was capable of such a thing, unless it was a crime of passion or something like that'. Twice he said it with the qualification about the crime of passion.
At that moment I just thought- OMG you did it. When previously I had thought he was totally innocent and there is really there is no hard evidence to suggest he really did.

EssexMummy123 · 19/12/2014 13:16

There's a difference though between having done it and there having been enough evidence to convict.

I wonder what the dna testing will bring.

clangermum · 19/12/2014 15:01

I also enjoyed the slate podcast (link in OP) reviewing this final episode, in fact all the serial 'spoiler' reviews were good

newrecruit · 19/12/2014 15:52

In the timeline inconsistencies, I wonder if, of tape, SK and the team speculated on what happened instead.

For example, instead of the shopping trip, could they actually have been preparing to bury the body/digging grave in the park?

This would explain the rushed times later.

Also, it takes a long time to dig a hole. If I were going to plan something like that (I'm not, honest) then better to do it before that crime has been committed. That way, if you get caught, you've not yet done anything wrong and there's no dead body in the boot.

The burying bit takes less time so less risky.

mjmooseface · 19/12/2014 17:55

I am really enjoying the podcast. I am only on episode 6 at the moment but I don't mind spoilers! My husband is ahead of me and we've been having some interesting discussions about what we think! I have found it fascinating to listen to.

Eastpoint · 19/12/2014 19:29

EssexMummy123 I really enjoyed the parody - thanks for sharing.

itsbetterthanabox · 19/12/2014 19:37

I think a big part of this was race based and Adnan was not Pakistani Muslim and if he had any other lawyer but Gutierrez then he would not have been found guilty. That's not to say he didn't do it but a good lawyer would have used evidence properly and not ignored and intimidated her clients. I think from the start people saw this as an honour killing which it was not of course but him being Muslim meant he was judged in this way.

sooperdooper · 19/12/2014 22:58

I've been totally addicted to this for weeks, listened to the last one earlier today

There's a difference though between having done it and there having been enough evidence to convict.

That's where I am on it, I don't know if he did it, but there just isn't enough evidence to say he definitely did and I'm amazed a jury convicted him. I can't believe DNA samples weren't tested at the time, why didn't his own lawyer insist on that if it might've given another suspect??

I can't understand why Jay would come forward with so much info, knowing surely that he could've gone to prison for his involvement, if he didn't believe what he's saying and in the episode where she goes to speak to him I think he sounds believable

Did anyone else listen to ep 12 today where she speaks to Don, and he says he knew nothing about Jay until he listened to the podcast? Hmm Seriously? So his new girlfriend was murdered and he didn't pay any attention to the trial? Odd, very odd, plus he also didn't try and contact her after she disappeared

OxonConfusedDotCom · 19/12/2014 23:05

What am i missing here?? slogged through tried to listen to at least 5 episodes but as an audio just too choppy for me and music/some accents annoying. And i just don't care who did it. Don't feel I've been made to care - all too analytical and flat. But I've read the rave reviews and can see I'm vastly outnumbered on here Grin

itsbetterthanabox · 19/12/2014 23:14

Some accents annoying.. Hmm What? How is that relevant at all? Listen to what they say. So bizarre you'd even note that. Whose accents?!

OxonConfusedDotCom · 19/12/2014 23:18

No justification Grin, guess i mean voices rather than accents - bunch of -/self obsessed-- american teens i find grating after a while. Relevant to MY enjoyment. Freely admit to being in the minority here but i just dont see what others enjoy about it. At all.

sooperdooper · 19/12/2014 23:26

Oxon you seem to be listening to it as if it's a drama, rather than real life, I don't find the people she speaks to self obsessed at all, it's their reality they're talking about - of course it's analytical, it's discussing facts :)

OxonConfusedDotCom · 19/12/2014 23:32

Is it though or journalistic interpretation of edited facts ? I hear v little about the victim's character for one. V little. This is a key weakness for me and means i don't really care who killed her. Which feels wrong when i know it's a true story. Also quite voyeuristic considering it is true.

MagersfonteinLugg · 19/12/2014 23:40

I am so not understanding how Jay was not seen as the killer.
He knew where the car was.
He apparantly phoned Jenn WHILST he was in the same house as her (on the landline)
He was obviously "stepping out" on Stephanie and was terrified that she would find out. So if Hae knew (maybe he'd even tried it on with her and she had sussed what a dog he really was), then he had a reason to keep her quiet.
I just cannot believe that the whole case was based on the say so of Jay.
It wasn't as though he was what you might call a regular guy. Lots of people said how he was a rebel, someone who actively tried to be different, refused to follow the pack,etc.
And didn't he have Adnans phone?
I personally think he did it and Jenn covered for him. I think they used Adnan as a patsy.

sooperdooper · 20/12/2014 00:55

But if Jay did if why did he go to the police? He could've gone to prison for what he admitted to, if wasnt like he didn't admit his involvement

BOFster · 20/12/2014 01:10

He was worried about being spotted on CCTV, and probably being linked to DNA evidence. Not that the police even bothered to search his house Hmm.

sooperdooper · 20/12/2014 09:29

Or check the DNA evidence!!

clangermum · 20/12/2014 10:49

I really hope they do an update on the DNA evidence, maybe once the appeal has happened.

EssexMummy123 · 20/12/2014 11:19

Update from the Innocence project

time.com/3639655/serial-innocence-project-deirdre-enright/

very interesting.

clangermum · 20/12/2014 11:26

Thanks EssexMummy

Yay, we've made Discussions of the day

clangermum · 20/12/2014 11:47

Update was really interesting

clangermum · 20/12/2014 11:49

Why on earth would they not test swabs if they'd gone to the trouble of taking them? I'd been thinking they'd just not tested the bottle and rope found nearby, but this is bizarre

Karasea · 20/12/2014 12:08

I don't see how we can know for sure that Adan is guilty or innocent but I am very clear that his conviction should never have happened. How it has is pretty terrifying.

I don't understand how Jay was supported into the star witness role, he admits to being involved and knows key info, destroys evidence and doesn't tell the same story twice. We also don't hear what parts of the final narrative were crafted by the police who had arranged his legal support too. I don't understand how he was viewed as trustworthy when even those who liked him said he told lies often.

And I do find it hard to believe that before prison and after prison Adan's only crime was murder.

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