Two men who were wrongly jailed for a 1994 murder in Harlem have finally been cleared of all charges. This happened on Thursday, July 10, after they both spent many years behind bars.

Charles Collins, now 49, and Brian Boles, 48, hugged their lawyers in court after a Manhattan judge threw out their convictions.

Back in 1994, both men were just 17 when they were blamed for killing 85-year-old James Reid.

Reid was found dead in his Harlem apartment. He had been badly beaten and strangled.

Collins and Boles became suspects a week after they robbed a friend. That separate crime led police to question Boles.

During questioning, police moved from the robbery to asking about Reid’s murder. They wrongly told Boles that Collins had already blamed him for the killing.

Boles later admitted guilt under pressure, and that made Collins confess too — both out of fear and confusion.

After being cleared, Boles said he was very happy outside the courtroom.

Their release came after The Innocence Project and Manhattan DA’s office found DNA evidence that raised big doubts about their guilt.

Attorney Jane Pucher explained how unfair the police questioning was. She said the two teens were lied to and pressured without sleep until they gave false confessions.

She added that false confessions happen often — especially with young, vulnerable suspects like Boles and Collins.

Boles was sentenced to 25 years to life in prison, while Collins got 20 years to life after pleading guilty.

Boles was paroled in 2024, while Collins got out earlier in 2017 after serving nearly 22 years.

Their freedom finally came after DNA was tested from under Reid’s fingernails. The DNA didn’t match either Boles or Collins. Even more troubling, other evidence that could have cleared them was not shown during their trial.

They both admitted to the robbery, but not the murder.

Assistant District Attorney Terri Rosenblatt said they’ve already completed their prison terms and are back in their communities. So, all charges should be dropped.

Judge Ruth Pickholz agreed and dismissed the charges. People in the courtroom clapped after her decision.

District Attorney Alvin Bragg said although they can’t change the past, he hopes the men find some comfort in being proven innocent.