Conviction overturned in 16-year-old Palmdale murder case, Suspect released from prison

(FOX 11) - An Iraq War veteran convicted in a 16-year-old murder was released from state prison Thursday.

The release came after new evidence raised doubts about whether he killed an 18-year-old woman in a Palmdale park-and-ride lot in 2000.

Defense attorney Jeffrey Ehrlich says the new evidence suggests a robbery or car jacking and that his client had nothing to do with it.

"He was innocent then and he's innocent now," Ehrlich said.

"The people are prepared to say we no longer have confidence in the conviction based on third party evidence," Los Angeles Deputy Dist Atty. Bobby Grace said.

In 2009, Jennings, an Iraq War veteran and father of 5, was convicted of second-degree murder in the shooting death of Antelope Valley College student Michelle O'Keefe.

Jennings had worked as a security guard at the parking lot where the shooting happened on Feb. 22, 2000.

The prosecutor said Jennings killed O'Keefe after she returned to her blue Ford Mustang. she had left at the lot so she could carpool with a friend to a Kid Rock video shoot in Los Angeles.

O'Keefe's father Michael says He feels Jennings is still guilty.

"No one has shown me he wasn't involved," O'Keefe said, "nothing's worse than losing your kids.

Jennings has been ordered to wear an ankle monitor until his next court day. That is scheduled did August 24th.

Copyright 2016 FOX 11 Los Angeles : Download our mobile app for breaking news alerts or to watch FOX 11 News | Follow us on Facebook , Twitter , Instagram , and YouTube . Be a citizen journalist for FOX 11 and get paid - download the Fresco News App today.