a court ruled richard lapointe , a former dishwasher , was deprived of a fair trial for the 1987 killing and on friday , a judge ordered him to be freed on $ 25,000 cash bail .
the former inmate was photographed walking out of the hearing alongside his arms weakly raised in the air.in lieu of his prison jumpsuit .
his case became a cause celebre , receiving widespread publicity as advocates for the mentally disabled and other supporters - including writers arthur miller and william styron - rallied to prove his innocence .