A man locked up for seven years for a murder he insists he did not commit said he was free from a "nightmare" as judges quashed his conviction on Thursday.
Sam Hallam, 24, was at the Court of Appeal to hear the announcement by Lady Justice Hallett, Mr Justice Openshaw and Mr Justice Spencer that his conviction is "unsafe".
The public gallery applauded and shouted "justice" as the judge announced the conviction was quashed.
In a statement read on Hallam's behalf outside court by Paul May, who led the campaign to free him, he criticised the Metropolitan police and said they had not followed up leads which would have proved his innocence: "I don't want anyone else ever to suffer what I've been through."
He added: "I now need time to recover with my family and friends from the nightmare I have suffered for the last seven-and-a-half years."
Hallam, who was 18 when found guilty and sentenced to life at the Old Bailey for the murder of trainee chef Essayas Kassahun, 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.
Speaking yesterday at his welcome home party, his mother Wendy Cohen said "wrongs had been put right." "My family has been through hell. It has been torture for Sam and the whole family," she said.
Lady Justice Hallett gave the court's reasons in a judgment lasting more than an hour.
Mr Hallam's conviction was overturned in the light of fresh evidence relating to his alibi and identification.
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.
Hallam told the BBC he was not angry about yet but he "probably" would be soon, adding "I'm still in shock."
He said the "whole system" had been unfair, adding: "The original police investigation was not done properly. They could have done things then to eliminate me, but they never."
He also spoke to the Islington Tribute yesterday he was "over-elated" and "very happy."
“I’m staying in my sister’s room because my mum’s decorating mine. I went to see my uncle. I just wanted to get out the house so I went for some pie and mash.”
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.
Sam Hallam's full statement
"I don't want anyone else ever to suffer what I've been through since October 2004.
"The identification evidence against me was so unreliable it should have never been put to the jury.
"The Metropolitan Police should have followed up leads which would have proved my innocence of the terrible murder of Essayas Kassahun.
"They should have disclosed all the relevant evidence in their possession to my lawyers and they didn't.
"I now need time to recover with my family and friends from the nightmare I've suffered for the last seven and a half years.
"Justice has long been denied to me but it has now finally prevailed."