Lincoln - Friday marks the new beginning for a 68-year-old Omaha man.  Jerry Erving's fight to get out of prison is over.

In the 1960s, he was convicted of murder, but he never pulled the trigger. After more than 40 years behind bars, the Nebraska Pardon Board set him free, and his family couldn't be happier.

There was laughter and tears. A reunion outside prison walls. A reunion, 44 years in the making.

"This is a great day," said niece Vomanechia Newman.

"I'm out! I'm glad!" said Jerry Erving.

He was convicted of murder after a friend shot and killed a man. Erving was at the bar drinking when it happened. He grabbed a few bottles of booze and left in the getaway car. The convicted killer got paroled 25 years ago, while Jerry stayed locked up, until now.

"This is the best feeling in the world," Jerry said. "You can never go wrong with family support and friends support and the community support."

Jerry's wife Evelyn holds her husband's hand. She took his case to the state Capital and fought for his release.

"I woke up at two o'clock and I 've been up ever since. It's still not real. It just doesn't seem really real," Evelyn said.

As for the future, Jerry and his family are taking it one day at a time. For now, they just want to enjoy this moment they've spent decades dreaming would happen.

It's been 20 years since the state has pardoned a life sentence.