A New York man incorrectly charged with murder in 1986 has been released after three decades in prison following a long campaign to clear him.

David McCallum and his friend William Stuckey were both 16 when they were convicted of murder and kidnapping following false confessions which they later recanted, according to a New York Times report.

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Mr Stuckey died of a heart attack in 2001 at age 31 but Mr McCallum, now 45, persevered to clear both of their names.

Speaking in a Brooklyn court on Wednesday, Mr McCallum’s lawyer said the men’s confessions had been obtained through ‘coercion’ and ‘improper suggestion’ and there was no evidence against them.

Dozens of supporters broke into applause when the convictions were cleared, with Mr McCallum telling reporters the moment was “bittersweet”.

“This is a bittersweet moment because I’m walking out alone,” he said.

“There’s somebody else who is supposed to be walking out with me but he isn’t, and that’s Willie Stuckey.”