Man freed after 18 years in jail for a murder he didn't commit

David Robinson was convicted of gunning down Sheila Box in 2001

(CBS/Screengrab)

A man who spent 18-years in prison for a murder he did not commit, has finally been freed.

David Robinson told CBS News that he had "been a living nightmare" and that life had "been an up-and-down roller coaster", but he was nonetheless delighted to be cleared.

In 2001, he was found guilty of shooting Sheila Box outside the bar she co-owned in the Missouri city of Sikeston, before stealing the day's takings.

Despite little physical evidence to link him with the murder, authorities claimed Mr Robinson, who had a history of drug related crimes, had killed her after a drug deal.

At his trial, a police informant testified that he had witnessed Mr Robinson commit the murder. It later emerged that they had been paid to give evidence and received hundreds of dollars in expenses.

An inmate who shared a cell with him as he awaited trial, also testified that he had confessed to the crime. Mr Robinson’s attorney claimed the pair had never been placed together, so this could not be feasible.

But he was found guilty and sentenced to life without parole.

Four years after his conviction, another man confessed on tape that he was the real killer.

Romanze Mosby said he was selling Ms Box drugs and panicked when he noticed she had a gun. He then went on to take his own life in 2009.

As repeated attempts to appeal his case were denied, Mr Robinson remained behind bars.

But in February 2017, a judge ruled that the evidence clearly showed that Mr Robinson was not responsible for the murder and over a year later, he has finally been released.

Mr Robinson said what "bothered me more than anything", was "to be wrongfully accused of killing a woman.”

Asked what he wants to do when he is finally a free man, he said: "Hug my mother."