A Latina who spent 18 years in prison is released from prison. Your crime could be accidental

It was hard for Mexican Rosa Jiménez to realize that she was not dreaming this Wednesday, when she was finally

able to hug her daughters in freedom

.

She had spent the last 18 years of her life in prison, accused of a possibly accidental death. 

"It seems to be a dream, but it is not," confessed the Mexican immigrant minutes later that she was able to fulfill her long-awaited wish.

He is now free on bail, along with his loved ones and

awaiting a new trial.

She was sentenced to 99 years in prison

after being found guilty of the murder of a child she cared for in her North Austin, Texas apartment in 2003. At the time, she was 17 years old, a young daughter, four months pregnant and alone. two months after arriving in the United States.

When Jiménez was sentenced to 99 years in prison in 2003, she was 17 Noticias Telemundo

Jiménez has pleaded not guilty time and again since then, but financial hardships and the fact that he did not speak English undermined his opportunity for effective representation in the original proceeding, according to his current defense attorneys.

[Immigrant detained at a bus stop "because of his Latino appearance" is saved from deportation]

"To be able to return with my children one day,"

the immigrant outlined in front of the microphones when journalists asked her about the motivation she had to survive the confinement.

"And now, just, it's happening."

Travis County Judge Karen Sage was tasked with signing an order to release Jiménez this week after hearing three experts say in a special hearing that

the victim's towel-choking may have been accidental.

“No crime was committed here;

Mrs. Jiménez is innocent.

If it can be avoided, she should not spend another night in jail ”;

assures the statement released by Sage's office.

"I cannot do her justice today, but I hope I can give her the right that she has been deprived of for a long time: her freedom."

Rosa Jiménez is free on bail and awaiting a new trial.Noticias Telemundo

During the hearing, pulmonologists explained that there is no way that Jiménez could have stuffed the 21-month-old boy Bryan Gutiérrez's throat with paper towels, as prosecutors argued during the 2005 trial.

The asphyxia appears to have been the product of an accident

, after the child put the paper in his mouth.

["I was praying with my bible and they pepper sprayed us."

These immigrants detained by ICE risked their health and suffered retaliation]

After the explanation given by these experts, one of the doctors who testified during the first trial changed her opinion, and issued an affidavit this week.

All this will be worth to try to

prove Jiménez's innocence

when a new trial takes place.

This dramatic story inspired and was immortalized in the film "From Inside" by Mexican filmmaker Lucía Gajá.