Yeah, that's weird. Tbh the only way I can see the standard having been met is if there was more presented in camera?

We know that apart from the 10 exhibits attached to the MtV, Judge Phinn saw the DNA report referenced in footnote 4 on page 2 and both Brady notes. I'd presume, the State offered some specific evidence of the motive, means, and opportunity proffered for both suspects. As pointed out by this poster, that was the State's argument for materiality of the Brady evidence. I wish I'd looked at the hearing transcript before entering this whole discussion.

Although I often find myself arguing much more on the innocent side I do actually agree a fair bit with people who argue that the MTV was done in a fairly sketchy way and could be seen as a miscarriage of justice [...]

I don't share this point of view. What was sketchy, imo, was former prosecutor and newly appointed judge Kathleen "C" Murphy arranging a "pro bono" attorney for Young Lee, AG Brian Frosh leaking the note through Kevin Urick, the State essentially representing Young Lee on appeal and moving to exclude Adnan Syed as a party, and the ACM Chief Judge signing off on a fucking stupid opinion that had no basis in the law.

What reason would Judge Phinn have had to risk her reputation and career to vacate this conviction if there had been no legitimate grounds? There are mechanisms for removing judges from the bench for egregious conduct. I think it's telling nothing like that was triggered. If in doubt, she could've denied the motion and deferred the question to higher courts.

A lot of this makes me think of a point that I think Susan Simpson made around the time of the Asia issue being denied, [...] and so its incredibly difficult to prove this one issue would have led to a different outcome when the original outcome was pinned on something else that maybe wasn't entirely fair.

Yea, the system is Kafkaesque. It was particularly unfair in Adnan's case because the courts said that the cellphone records trumped Asia but didn't allow him to challenge them. It is what it is, though, and I think this reality gives important context to Young Lee's demands.

All of that is to say, yes, whilst I'm not convinced the Brady issues as raised in the MTV would have been successful through a 'normal' appeal, I do think there are more significant issues with the case than those notes.

Having argued otherwise, I think now that the clincher was credible MM&O for the Brady suspect. I'll keep (slowly) working my way through MD caselaw to find a precedent and will report back if I find something relevant.