Here is a timeline of the events leading up to the release of Sam Hallam.

:: October 11, 2004

Essayas Kassahun, 21, is murdered on the corner of Bath Street and Old Street on the St Luke's estate in Clerkenwell, London.

:: October 20, 2004

Sam Hallam is arrested at his Hoxton home and taken to Belgravia police station for questioning.

:: September 13, 2005

Mr Hallam, Bullabek Ringbiong and six others stand trial at the Old Bailey for the murder of Mr Kassahun and other charges.

:: October 26, 2005

Mr Hallam and Ringbiong are found guilty of murder.

:: November 4, 2005

Mr Hallam's lawyers lodge an application to appeal, which was subsequently refused by a single judge.

:: November 23, 2005

Mr Hallam and Ringbiong are sentenced to life at the Old Bailey for murder. They are told they must serve 12 and 15 years respectively.

:: October 23, 2006

Three judges at the Court of Appeal grant Mr Hallam leave to appeal.

:: March 2, 2007

An appeal against Mr Hallam's conviction is dismissed.

:: July 23, 2007

Supporter Ray Winstone appears on ITV's Tonight With Trevor McDonald insisting Mr Hallam is innocent.

:: February 20, 2008

Mr Hallam applies to the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) to review his case and a dossier of evidence is presented.

:: June 12, 2009

The CCRC confirms it is to re-examine the case.

:: January 2010

Thames Valley Police begin an inquiry into Mr Hallam's conviction.

:: July 28, 2011

The case is referred to the Court of Appeal.

:: May 16, 2012

Mr Hallam is freed on bail by the Court of Appeal.

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