A young man who has always pleaded his innocence over a 2004 murder had his first taste of freedom in more than seven years today after a dramatic twist in his case at the Court of Appeal.
Sam Hallam, 24, from Hoxton, east London, whom lawyers described as the victim of a "serious miscarriage of justice", was released by leading judges after prosecutors announced they were not opposing his challenge against conviction.
Mr Hallam, who was 18 when found guilty and sentenced to life at the Old Bailey for the murder of a trainee chef, was released from the cells at the Royal Courts of Justice in London to be greeted by emotional family members and dozens of tearful and cheering supporters.
His mother Wendy Cohen, 53, who hugged her dazed-looking son, said the family was in a state of shock over the turn of events.
Surrounded by well-wishers she said: "My family has been through hell. It has been torture for Sam and the whole family."
After leaving the building they were drenched in champagne by supporters waiting outside.
Among those greeting Mr Hallam were his brothers Terry, 31, and Danny, 29, and sister Daisy, 16. His father, Terry, was found hanged in October 2010.
Mr Hallam was released on bail by three leading judges after the prosecution announced it was not opposing his challenge against his conviction for the murder of a trainee chef.
He was convicted in October 2005 of the murder of Essayas Kassahun, 21, who died after being attacked by a group of youths on the St Luke's estate in Clerkenwell, London, in October 2004.
Since his conviction, Mr Hallam's family and friends have mounted a high-profile campaign insisting he is innocent.
The 24-year-old was jailed for life at the Old Bailey in 2005. Earlier his appeal court heard Hallam was the victim of a "serious miscarriage of justice."
Reports from the court said there was a "roar" from the public gallery and a "spine tingling atmosphere" after it was confirmed prosecutors would not oppose his appeal.
His case came before the appeal judges after it was referred to the court by the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC), the independent body which investigates possible miscarriages of justice.
Lady Justice Hallett, sitting with Mr Justice Openshaw and Mr Justice Spencer, will give their ruling in the case at noon tomorrow, when they are expected to quash his conviction.
After announcing the granting of bail, Lady Justice Hallett turned to the dock and asked Hallam: "Do you understand what is going on? Are you sure you are all right?".
Hallam, who is serving a minimum term of 12 years, says he was elsewhere on the night of the killing.
An appeal against his conviction was dismissed in March 2007 and he applied to the CCRC to review his case in February 2008.
When announcing its decision to refer the case, the CCRC said it had done so because it "considers that a range of issues, including new evidence capable of casting doubt on the reliability of identification evidence at trial, together raise the real possibility that the Court of Appeal would now quash the conviction".
Mr Blaxland said the appeal court had "bitter experience of wrongful convictions in cases such as this".
Sometimes cases come before the court "in which it is necessary to re-learn the lessons of the past".
He said: "In my submission, this is one such case."