Leroy Evans of Chester walked out of Media’s Delaware County Courthouse Friday a free man. He served 41 years for a murder he says he didn’t commit, writes Vinny Vella for The Philadelphia Inquirer.

The first thing Evans did was hug his wife, Rosemary Simmons and thank God.

“It’s a blessing, just a blessing to see everyone,” a beaming Evans said.

Evans, 64, fought 40 years for his release.

Then on Friday, during a hearing before Delaware County Court Judge Kevin Kelly, the first-degree murder conviction in the 1980 death of Emily Leo was overturned.

A no-contest plea to third-degree murder was entered and Evans was credited the 41 years he had spent in jail.

Co-defendant Richard Jones was the prosecution’s star witness at Evans trial, testifying that Evans planned the attack and had strangled Leo after she was lured to Jones’ house in November 1980.

He recanted that testimony in 2016.

Evans’ attorney, Mike Malloy, said the case just didn’t fit after he met Evans.

“I read the trial testimony and it was clear so many things went wrong, and not little things, either,” he said.

Read more about Leroy Evans’ release from prison in The Philadelphia Inquirer.