A Peekskill man who served nearly 16 years in prison for a murder he didn?t commit was formally exonerated Thursday. Jeffrey Deskovic was 17 years old when he was convicted of the rape and murder of classmate Angela Correa. Police claim he confessed to the crime. Deskovic says that confession was coerced after several hours of questioning by Peekskill police. The conviction was overturned in September after DNA evidence proved another man was responsible for the crime. Deskovic then walked out of prison a free man. Thursday, a judge dismissed the original 1989 rape and murder indictment.

Deskovic is vowing to work to change the legal system. He says he is still outraged that a coerced confession was enough to put him away for murder. He also plans to file a civil lawsuit with the help of his attorney and Project Innocence, the group responsible for his freedom.