(SOUNDBITE) (English) LOS ANGELES SUPERIOR COURT JUDGE MARK ARNOLD, SAYING OFF-CAMERA:<br /> <br />"The petition is granted. The judgment is vacated. The conviction is overturned and as to Ms. Mellen, the case is dismissed."<br /> <br />After spending 17 years behind bars, Susan Mellen cried tears of joy Friday as a judge overturned her conviction<br /> <br />59 year old Mellen was convicted in 1998 of killing her former boyfriend. She served 17 years of her sentence until a judge ruled she had been wrongly accused.<br /> <br />During a news conference after her release, she thanked her family for their support and said she looks forward to spending time getting re-acquainted with them.<br /> <br />Mellen's case was re-examined after the testimony which incriminated her had been called into doubt.<br /> <br />Local attorney Deirdre O'Connor.<br /> <br />(SOUNDBITE) (English) LAWYER DEIRDRE O'CONNOR SAYING<br /> <br />"She was convicted because it was a titillating story and the prosecutor was skilled and the defense was not."
