Mark Russell, a former policeman who was sentenced in 2017 to life in prison for the killing of a teenager, has been freed.
The Court of Appeal has quashed his conviction and set aside his life sentence.
One of the factors which contributed to the court's decision was the extraordinary delays in the court process and the further length of time it would take for a retrial.
Russell was part of a police-military team on Alexander Road in Kingston when 18-year-old Ravin Thompson was shot and injured.
While being transported to hospital, the teenager was taken out of the vehicle on Darling Street in downtown Kingston and shot again before being brought in.
The controversial case grabbed headlines because Russell and another policeman, Morris Lee, left the island before being charged.
Lee remains at large but Russell was held in the United States and extradited in 2012.
He remained in custody until his trial which led to conviction and life sentence in 2017.
He appealed his conviction and life sentence.
Through his attorney, John Clarke, Russell argued, among other things, that there were issues with the jury's deliberations, allegations of pressure being applied to arrive at a verdict, and errors made by the trial judge in how the jury was directed to arrive at its verdict.
He also argued that prejudicial evidence concerning with how he was arrested in the United States by US Marshals was allowed to be admitted into evidence and this was unfair.
Mr Russell contended that he was not aware he was wanted in Jamaica as he was caring for a sick relative until he was arrested, and this was skewed against him at trial.
The Court of Appeal examined the evidence and concluded that some of the evidence was prejudicial and had no relevance to the issues to have been put to the jury.
The Court decided that the combination of improperly admitted evidence, among other things, caused a miscarriage of justice.
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