Men wrongly convicted released

Rockville, Conn. (WTNH) - What would you do if you spent 16 years behind bars for a crime you didn't commit and were suddenly set free? Two men found out what that was like Thursday, after a judge in Rockville ordered them released. 

"After all those years behind them walls I was finally going to be free," said Ronald Taylor. "I fought, I fought hard every day!" 

Blog: Justice comes 16 years too late

George Gould says he feels a little bitter about his time in prison because it took him away from his kids, who are all grown up now, but now he's rejoicing that this day has finally come. "I've been waiting for this for a long while, for a long time, I always knew that it would come to this day," exclaimed Gould.

Ronald Taylor and George Gould went to prison because one witness said they were in a New Haven store in 1993 when the store owner was murdered. But that witness now says she lied because police coerced her.

"I didn't do this so there was no reason for me to plead guilty or even have a bitter thing about it. It was just, okay, I got convicted, now I have to go to work to get out," said Taylor.

After months of testimony last year, a judge in Rockville ordered Taylor and Gould released. Prosecutors appealed, and their fate came down to a hearing Thursday.

Gould and Taylor did not talk about pursuing compensation for the years they lost, but, they did talk about problems in the legal system. "I think some of those prosecutors need to be accountable for their actions," said Taylor, a now 'free man.' "They put people behind bars knowing they were innocent from the beginning," said a frustrated Taylor.

Even though today was Taylor's first day as a 'free man,' it remains bittersweet for him because he was diagnosed with cancer while behind bars and may not live much longer. His wife told News Channel 8 last week she just wants to have him home.

Taylor and Gould will be required to wear GPS tracking devices until prosecutors decide on whether or not to retry them for the crime.