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.