Innocent man released from prison 27 years later

BUFFALO, N.Y. — After spending 27 years in prison for a murder he did not commit, a Buffalo man walked free Wednesday.

Valentino Dixon walked out of the Erie County courthouse a free man after the court vacated the murder conviction that sent him to Attica 27 years ago.

The 48 year old was serving a sentence of 39 years to life for the 1991 killing of Torriano Jackson.

Several errors led to the wrongful conviction of Dixon, but with the help of several sports outlets and the Erie County district attorney's wrongful convictions unit, Dixon's conviction was vacated.

Another man, Lamarr Scott officially pleaded guilty to Jackson's murder prior to Dixon being freed.

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Scott, who is serving a life sentence for a 1993 shooting, admitted responsibility for the murder on  the night Jackson was shot and several times after, according to WGRZ.

While in prison, Dixon, who has never set foot on a golf course, became an accomplished artist, drawing hundreds of detailed "golf-scapes."

His artwork has been noticed by Golf Digest and the Golf Channel.

Dixon planned to dine at Red Lobster with his family and defense team Wednesday. Then he was going to buy a cellphone and get a passport so he can be with his Australian wife of 12 years.

NBC/WGRZ