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Serial S01 - Ep. 8: The Deal With Jay

Serial

2014/11/13
Serial

Serial

2014/11/13

Shownote

The state’s case against Adnan Syed hinged on Jay’s credibility; he was their star witness and also, because of his changing statements to police, their chief liability. Naturally, Adnan’s lawyer tried hard to make Jay look untrustworthy at trial. So, how ...

Highlights

This episode delves into the complex role of Jay Wilds, the state's key witness in the trial of Adnan Syed. It explores why the jury found his testimony credible despite his numerous inconsistencies, and examines how the police investigation handled his changing statements. The narrative also seeks to understand Jay's character through the eyes of his friends and acquaintances, painting a portrait of a man whose truthfulness remains a central, unresolved question.
00:00
Jay admitted to helping move a body
09:31
Jay led police to Hae's car.
15:05
Verification bias leads cops to ignore inconsistencies
20:32
I was there, I saw it.
37:19
Friends struggle to reconcile the murder story with the Jay they know

Chapters

Why a Juror Believed Jay: The Power of Admitting Guilt
00:00
The Calm Witness: How Jay's Composure Under Fire Shaped the Trial
06:20
The Detective's View: What the Police Investigation Got Right and Wrong
12:11
Confronting Jay: A Tense Visit and a Defiant Claim of Guilt
20:32
Friends and Liars: Reconciling Jay's Reputation with a Murder Case
31:32

Transcript

Speaker 2: Hi, I'm Solana Pine. I'm the director of video at The New York Times. For years, my team has made videos that bring you closer to big news moments. Videos by Times journalists that have the expertise to help you understand what's going on. Now, ...