CHICAGO (WLS) -- Xavier Walker walked out of the Cook County Sheriff's Office a free man Thursday night.
Walker served nearly 20 years in prison, for the murder of Mark Madjak, in West Garfield Park.
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He always proclaimed his innocence, and said he was beaten into confessing by Chicago police.
"I did a lot of hard work, it took me a lot of long hours, lot of hard work and dedication for me to prove my innocence so I could return home to my family and clear my name," he said upon his release. "It's been hard and challenging, but I had to fight through it and by the grace of God I was able to get through it.
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Prosecutors agreed to drop the case altogether, saying Walker's defense attorney did not introduce important photographs and alibi witnesses.