Clifton Hopeton Morrison has managed to finally win an epic series of legal battles that spanned over two years.

Resting comfortably last night in an undisclosed location, free of Westgate Correctional Facility, Mr. Morrison said, through a spokesperson, that he was eager to return to his native Jamaica and piece together the rest of his life.

And although he shied away from giving comment about his new found freedom - granted by the Court of Appeal - his lawyers did not hesitate to speak on behalf of Morrison and the ordeal he endured.

Morrison, 40, was arrested on February 6, 1999, after being stopped at Bermuda International Airport for allegedly importing cocaine from Jamaica, liquidated in rum bottles.

Prior to his appeal, Morrison had his case heard three times.

He was found guilty the first time and sentenced to 12 years, but that decision was overturned by appeal.

The second and third time the case was put off because of counsel bereavements and hold ups including a hung jury and an insufficient amount of jurors to sit on the case.

Yesterday, Morrison was granted a permanent stay of proceedings, thus not having to be tried a record fourth time.

"It is most fitting that we would have received this decision on Thanksgiving Day," said his lawyer Victoria Pearman. "I am happy that the Court of Appeal has seen fit to grant a redress in light of circumstances that were grossly unfair. Someone on remand does not have the same privileges as someone who is serving a sentence."

And it appeared that the Court of Appeal panel agreed, deciding that any further trial would be an abuse of process.

Morrison is expected to leave the Island in the upcoming days, but Ms Pearman said that his time spent confined in prison only being released for an hour a day has surely impacted him physically and psychologically.

And in last week's appeal hearing, Dr. Ian Kawaley gave some insight to the strain that Morrison was subjected to while he was on remand in prison.

"He has been in custody over two years, confined to a cell for 23 hours a day, without visits from family. This couldn't be fair - he is not a drug kingpin, there are no further reasons why he should be charged."

Ms Pearman said: "He has maintained his innocence from day one, when he was convicted the first time.

"He has wrote a letter to the judge and to the people of Bermuda for the predicament he found himself in and apologised to them - he maintained from the very onset that he was a pawn and not knowingly a part of the conspiracy.

"That is why we fought for his release. He is now looking forward to returning to Jamaica and restoring his life."