Fernando Bermudez Released from Prison

MYFOXNY.COM - Fernando Bermudez , whose 1992 conviction for killing a teen outside a nightclub was overturned last week, has been released from prison, an official said.

Prison officials released Bermudez around 2:10 p.m. Friday from the Sing Sing Correctional Facility in Ossining, N.Y., according to a state corrections spokeswoman.

"It's an amazing feeling. Truth prevails over falsehood," he said shortly after leaving prison. "It feels wonderful. It feels surreal. It's more surreal than Salvador Dali."

Bermudez served 18 years in prison and jail prior to trial in the shooting death of Raymond Blount, 16, in Greenwich Village. He could still face more prison time on an unrelated federal drug charge, but his lawyers hope federal officials will credit him with time served.

On Nov. 12, New York Justice John Cataldo blasted the investigation and the district attorney, saying he should have known the state's star witness was lying and that coercive tactics were used. The judge said there is clear and convincing evidence that Bermudez is innocent of murder.

Blount was gunned down as he left the Marc Ballroom nightclub near Union Square on Aug. 4, 1991. He had gotten into a fight with another teenager inside the club.

At trial, five witnesses had identified Bermudez as the killer. But they later said their testimony was false, reports said. The witnesses may have openly conferred before picking out Bermudez's mug shot.

Ephraim Lopez was the prosecutor's star witness. He identified Bermudez, but called him by a different name, saying he was known as "Wool" or "Wool Lou" from 92nd Street.

Prosecutors recently acknowledged none of that was true.

Investigators never bothered to check 92nd Street to see if there in fact was someone named Wool Lou, but we did -- and found him.

Wool Lou has said he was living in Kentucky at the time of the brawl and shooting.

Court papers reveal investigators eventually interviewed Louis in 2007 -- 10 years after Fox 5 did -- and got the same testimony.

Justice Cataldo not only overturned the conviction, he also tossed the charges and declared Bermudez innocent.

The D.A.'s office said it is considering an appeal of the ruling. Prosecutors said they do not believe witnesses were coerced, and say the trial prosecutor did not believe that any testimony was false at the time.

They also say there is no credible evidence that Luis Munoz was the shooter.