Dontae Sharpe: 'My 26-year fight to prove my innocence'

Elation greeted Dontae Sharpe as he walked out of prison a free man, 26 years after being wrongly convicted of murder.

But proving his innocence was only the first step down a long road. As he tried to rebuild his life - and to hold the system accountable - there was still one thing eluding him.

Update: On 12 November, North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper granted Dontae a full pardon.

This film was created by Chelsea Bailey, Hannah Long-Higgins and Shrai Popat

Additional filming by Eric Preston, Fusion Films and Spencer Zachary. Graphics and animation by Sarah Scott

Dontae Sharpe is currently a RISE Fellow with Forward Justice, where he advocates for criminal justice reform in North Carolina.