A Manhattan judge on Tuesday threw out the conviction of Johnny Hincapie, one of seven teenagers convicted in the 1990 stabbing death of Brian Watkins, a tourist from Utah visiting the city to attend the U.S. Open. NY1's Dean Meminger filed the following report.

Johnny Hincapie walked out of the courthouse after Judge Eduardo Padro tossed out his murder conviction in the infamous 1990 stabbing death of Brian Watkins and granted a new trial.

"Shame on those individuals that did this to me. Shame on all those individuals that had knowledge of what happened to me," Hincapie said. "But I forgive them. I forgive them because they have to deal with judgment."

Hincapie broke down in tears when the judge announced his decision. His family and friends erupted in cheers.

Brian Watkins was a tourist from Utah, visiting to attend the U.S. Open, when he was stabbed in the subway, protecting his parents from muggers.

Hincapie was one of seven teens from Queens convicted of murder. He later said a detective beat him into giving a false confession, and he fought for his release.

"It's a hell of a lot easier getting people into this system than getting them out, even when they don't belong in here in the first place," said defense attorney Ron Kuby.

In a series of hearings this year, three people, one a convicted co-defendant, testified that Hincapie was not on the subway platform when Watkins was killed.

The judge denied Hincapie's claim of innocence but said there should be a new trail.

"I knew this day was going to come some day, somehow, because 25 years of waiting and injustice and suffering had to be over some day," said Carlos Hincapie, Johnny's father.

The murder of Brian Watkins is considered the turning point for New York City in the fight against crime. After that horrible incident, thousands of additional officers were placed on the streets.

"It sort of changed us as New Yorkers forever," Kuby said. "But Johnny Hincapie didn't do it."

Those officers, 5,000 in all, began a reduction in violent crime that continues today.

The Manhattan district attorney's office says it has not decided whether to appeal but says it is committed to re-trying the case if necessary.