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After two days of emotional hearings, the North Carolina Innocence Inquiry Commission determined that there was sufficient evidence that Greg Taylor may not have committed the 1991 killing. It's a first-of-its-kind pathway for convicts to pursue their claim of innocence, and a panel of judges that will now take the case has the power to set Taylor free.

Craig Taylor, due to get out of prison in two years, put his future on the line by confessing to the killing in an interview with state investigators played at Friday's hearing. Then commissioners watched a video of the man currently in jail for the crime, Greg Taylor, as he broke down into sobbing tears after learning of the admission.

Family members gasped and cried as the commission announced its decision. Greg Taylor's brother, Eddy, said the family's always known that he was innocent.

"He's missed a lot of life," Eddy Taylor said. "He's missed seeing his daughter grow up."

Craig Taylor said in one audio recording played at Friday's hearing that he wanted to clear his conscience by coming forward. Investigators also produced a letter from Taylor in which he apologizes to the other Taylor, who is not related, for spending 16 years in prison for the killing of Jacquetta Thomas.

"I can't make up for the 16 years he's lost, but thanks to my confession he has a new start at freedom," wrote Craig Taylor. Officials said that they planned to refer Craig Taylor's evidence to local authorities and prosecutors.

North Carolina is the only state to have a commission, created three years ago, dedicated to finding post-conviction claims of innocence. Commission staff have already rejected 375 cases brought for consideration. Taylor's case is the third to make it to a hearing and the first to be heard publicly. No case has led to an exoneration.

Family members of Greg Taylor, along with audience members, broke down into tears as they watched the imprisoned man learn that another had confessed to the crime. He has steadfastly maintained his innocence, including during a recent three-hour deposition on tape, saying he was smoking crack in the area near Thomas and saw her body but never touched her.

Greg Taylor looked shocked after hearing the news. His head fell into his hands then peaked up to ask investigators, "Are you serious?" He began crying, taking deep breaths as he tried unsuccessfully to compose himself.

Craig Taylor, 40, said in an audio recording played at the hearing that he hit Thomas in the head until he knew she was dead.

In his interview with a commission investigator, he talked about using a bat and later disposing of it. He said he partially removed the clothing of the woman to make it look like she was raped, and he said he used a pocket knife.

Crime scene analyst Larry McCann said during the hearing that the marks on Thomas look as if she was struck by a two-by-four, but he theorized that a "bat" could also refer to that type of board.

"I'm absolutely convinced it was a two-by-four and not a bat," McCann said.

Steven Drizin, a Northwestern University expert on the reliability of confessions, said during the hearing that the details of Craig Taylor's confession increase the reliability. He also noted that Taylor later reaffirmed the confession and worried about getting the death penalty for coming forward.

There was little discussion about Craig Taylor's motive for killing, aside from a minor argument the night before and indications that Taylor was upset about Thomas going off with another man. Thomas was a prostitute at the time.

Drizin said he would have like to have seen more of an explanation from Craig Taylor. "We don't really have a good explanation for why, on this particular night, he lost it," Drizin said.