Andrew Mallard, the WA man who spent over a decade in jail for a murder he did not commit, has died in the United States.
Andrew Mallard walks out of Casuarina prison with John Quigley.Credit:file image
It's understood Mr Mallard died in Los Angeles after being hit by a car overnight, but the details surrounding his death have not been fully confirmed.
He was in his mid-late 50s.
In a short statement provided to WAtoday late on Saturday afternoon, a police spokesman said: "WA police have been advised of the death of Mr Andrew Mallard in Los Angeles.
"We have notified Mr Mallard's family in Western Australia and we extend our condolences to them at this difficult time."
Mr Mallard was wrongfully convicted of murdering Pamela Lawrence at her Mosman Park shop on May 23, 1994.
He spent 12 years in prison before finally being released in 2006.
Attorney General John Quigley and former journalist Colleen Egan were instrumental in his release from jail.
In a statement Mr Quigley said: "I’m terribly saddened by this tragedy.
“It’s just fortunate that he got to spend 13 years of freedom after so much time wrongfully imprisoned.
“My thoughts are with Grace and Jacqui.”
Mr Mallard's murder conviction was quashed by the High Court of Australia.
It later emerged through a police review that there was compelling evidence to charge a man by the name of Simon Rochford over the Pamela Lawrence murder.
Rochford was previously convicted of killing his girlfriend Brigitta Dickens.
Rochford took his own life in Albany Prison in 2006.
Mr Mallard accepted a $3.25 million compensation payment by the WA Government for his wrongful conviction in 2009.
Phil covers breaking news with a focus on court, crime and police for WAtoday.