Two North Carolina men who pleaded guilty to a crime they did not commit were freed on Thursday after 10 years in prison.

Kenneth Kagonyera and Robert Wilcoxson said they had pleaded guilty to avoid the death penalty and life in prison, the Associated Press reported.

I am just so happy I don't know what to say, Kagonyera's mother, Charlene Holmes, said, USA Today reported.

The case was brought forward by the North Carolina Innocence Inquiry Commission.

In the case of State v. Kagonyera and Wilcoxson, the Commission conducted a hearing on April 28 and 29, 2011, the organization wrote on their Web site. The Commission voted unanimously that there was sufficient evidence to merit judicial review. At that time, the case was referred forward to a three-judge panel.

Besides this case, the commission has heard three others, the AP reported.