(CBS News) A \"60 Minutes\" investigation raised questions about the evidence that sent Louis Taylor to prison at age 16 for allegedly setting a Tucson hotel fire that killed 29 people. After four decades behind bars, Taylor was released Tuesday night in a deal that required him to plead no contest to the charges to avoid a retrial. One of the first things he did next was talk to CBS News. <\/p>\n
Man convicted in Pioneer Hotel fire deaths, Louis Taylor, now a free man after 40 years Freed prisoner Louis Taylor on Pioneer Hotel plea: \"I had no choice\" \"60 Minutes\": Arizona's Pioneer Hotel fire re-examined <\/p>\n
\"It's precious,\" said Louis Taylor. \"Freedom is precious.\" <\/p>\n
Watch Louis Taylor speak to reporters following his plea deal: <\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Taylor is savoring his first 24 hours of freedom. We sat down for a face-to-face interview with Taylor and his attorney Ed Novak. His freedom is new, his emotions are raw. <\/p>\n
\"I did 41 years of my life for something I didn't do,\" he said. \"It was shameful, shameful what they did to me.\" <\/p>\n
Of the life he missed while he was in prison, Taylor said: \"Yeah, I don't even know how to drive a car. It ain't supposed to happen in America. We're supposed to have the best justice system in the world. How did I fall in the cracks for 42 years?\" <\/p>\n
He's free, he said, because the Arizona Justice Project and \"60 Minutes\" uncovered evidence of a shoddy investigation, suppression of evidence and racial bias. <\/p>\n
\"The world knows I'm innocent,\" Taylor said. \"They should know I'm innocent. I am innocent.\" <\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Read the original post: <\/p>\n
Louis Taylor savors freedom after 40 years in prison<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" (CBS News) A \"60 Minutes\" investigation raised questions about the evidence that sent Louis Taylor to prison at age 16 for allegedly setting a Tucson hotel fire that killed 29 people. After four decades behind bars, Taylor was released Tuesday night in a deal that required him to plead no contest to the charges to avoid a retrial. One of the first things he did next was talk to CBS News Continue reading