San Quentin prisoner freed after wrongful conviction 25 years ago

From CNN's Stan Wilson

LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) - Willie Earl Green walked out of a California courtroom a free man Thursday after serving nearly 25 years in prison for the execution-style murder of a Los Angeles woman he insists he never committed.

A Los Angeles judge set the graying, 56-year-old man free after ruling that the prosecution's star witness, Willie Finley, lied to a jury during key portions of his original testimony. Finley recently recanted his story.

Green, who earned a college degree while behind bars at California's San Quentin State Prison, told reporters he was "humbled" by his release. "Today is a glorious day," he said. "It's a great day. I never gave up on this day. I knew one day this day would come. I never asked for mercy. I only asked for justice to be served, and it was served today."