A man locked behind bars in 1990 for a Brooklyn murder that took place while he was on vacation at Disney World savored his first taste of freedom in 24 years Tuesday — by tucking into a juicy T-bone steak.
Jonathan Fleming and about two dozen friends and family headed to the Tony Roma’s restaurant across from Barclays Center after a Brooklyn judge ordered him freed.
Fleming, 51, beamed after chowing down on his meal, which he washed down with the first drink he’s had in decades, a pina colada.
Earlier, he shared a heartfelt, courtroom embrace with his aging mom, who told him: “After 25 years, come hug your mother” after acting Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Matthew D’Emic dismissed all charges.
Patricia Fleming, 72, said she was with her son during the fateful family vacation that should have provided him the perfect alibi.
“That’s what was so hard. I knew he was innocent,” she said.
Fleming’s supporters burst into applause and shouts of “Thank you, Jesus!” when he was officially cleared, and Fleming wept with joy as he embraced his lawyers, Anthony Mayol and Taylor Koss.
Fleming said he was “feeling amazing” and “just taking it all in.”
“I’m taking one day at a time. Things are going to work out with me,” he said.
“I’m going to spend some time with my family and take it from there.”
He was convicted of shooting Darryl “Black” Rush in 1989, allegedly as retribution for stealing money.
Although he produced photos and receipts to prove he was in Orlando, Fla., at the time, prosecutors convinced a jury there were “53 different flights” Fleming could have taken to commit the murder and return to Florida.
In a statement, new Brooklyn DA Ken Thompson said a “careful and thorough” investigation by his Conviction Review Unit had turned up a crucial piece of evidence that would have corroborated Fleming’s alibi if it had been introduced at trial.
“In Fleming’s possession, and later found in files, was a receipt from a Florida hotel, time stamped for August 14, 1989 at 9:27pm — four hours before Rush was shot and killed in Brooklyn,” the statement said.
Thompson’s office wouldn’t say where or when the receipt was found.
Defense lawyer Koss said he didn’t understand why the receipt surfaced “with relative ease” so long after the trial.
“I can’t accept it was a mistake,” said Koss, who added that a civil suit over the case was planned.