Mr Stephen Downing says he feels "terrific" that his murder conviction has been quashed by the Court of Appeal in Britain after 27 years in jail.
When asked who he blamed for the miscarriage of justice, he said it is now "all in the past".
Outside court, Mr Downing thanked his supporters and legal team.
He says he has no qualms with Derbyshire police, adding: "It's all in the past. Let's forget it."
But during a day-long appeal hearing in which the British Crown did not seek to uphold the conviction, the judges said the police officers who interrogated the 17-year-old Downing before he confessed were guilty of "substantial and significant breaches" of the rules on questioning of suspects.
The court heard that Mr Downing was interrogated for nearly eight hours before being cautioned. During that time he was never told he was under arrest and was denied access to a solicitor.
Lord Justice Pill, sitting with Mrs Justice Hallett and Mr Justice Davis, also accepted fresh evidence from two forensic scientists who challenged the testimony of the prosecution's expert at the trial that the blood on Mr Downing's clothing could only be explained by his having been the assailant who wielded the murder weapon - a pickaxe handle.
The expert had totally discounted Mr Downing's claim that the victim, who was still alive when he found her, had shaken her blood-soaked hair which had spattered his clothes.
Mr Don Hale, the journalist who campaigned for his release, has called on British prime Minister Mr Tony Blair to launch a public inquiry.
The former editor of the Matlock Mercurysaid he was disappointed the Court of Appeal did not go as far to call confirm Mr Downing was innocent.
He said: "I would have liked the judges to have gone a step further and say he is innocent. I think they could have been more positive on that and come out and said he could not have done it. I think he will be a little bit disappointed now that he has not been fully cleared."
PA