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Fernando Bermudez was released without bail from Sing Sing prison in Ossining, N.Y. just after 2:20 p.m.

As of Friday, state officials were still deciding whether to send him back to jail on an unrelated drug conviction.

"It's a real tragedy that it took 18 years, but it's certainly a very happy day for him," said Bermudez's attorney Barry Pollack. "He was marveling at being out, and the little things like getting into an automobile.... Talking in a cell phone that was smaller than his hand, he remarked that last time he spoke on a cell phone, it was the size of a shoebox. So a lot has changed and a lot of the world has passed him by."

Last week, a state judge cited false testimony in overturning a 1992 murder verdict against Bermudez. Four witnesses who identified Bermudez as the killer later recanted, while another witness was determined to have lied on the witness stand to avoid charges himself.

Bermudez was convicted of killing a teen on a street corner near Union Square.

His defense is urging the court to use the defendant's years in prison as time served for the 27-month drug sentence. A judge said Thursday that Bermudez be allowed to leave prison until at least June 30, when a decision will be made on the drug case.

Prosecutors were considering Friday an appeal of the overturned murder conviction.