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Fuller had been on remand since August of 2011, and today Attorney General Wilfred Elrington heard second his appeal. But he did so this time with specific instruction from the Court of Appeal, and after 5 months, Elrington gave his decision. It's a major outcome for Fuller and his family who have resisted the extradition in the courts for 15 years -where they've lost in every court at every level. But with their attorney Eamon Courtenay, they kept fighting, exhausting all options, not once, but twice. And finally it worked out...tonight, Daniel Ortiz looks back at the last 2 years of the Fuller saga, leading up to today's release:

Hon. Wilfred Elrington - Minister of Foreign Affairs
"I informed Mr. Fuller that I had agreed to his application not to be surrendered to the United States authorities under the provisions of the extradition act of Belize."

Daniel Ortiz reporting
That's the best news that Rhett Fuller and his family could have gotten after fighting his extradition for over 15 years, in and out of prison the entire time.

Although today was the day he finally went home a free man, his big break in fighting his extradition came when he appealed the decision of the Minister of Foreign Affairs. His attorney believed from then that their case was airtight.

File: October 22, 2012
Eamon Courtenay - Attorney for Rhett Fuller
"It is for the minister to make a decision as a minister; is this the way I want to treat a Belizean? Should a Belizean who has been made to wait 8 years before a request for extradition has come, should that person be sent?"

Five months later, the Court of Appeal allowed his appeal and quashed the minister's first decision, the first court decision in his favour.

File: March 28, 2013
Eamon Courtenay - Attorney for Rhett Fuller
"The court has now said that the Minister's decision cannot stand, and they had ordered the Minister to re-hear it. What the President mentioned is that they have given him guidance as to how to do that hearing."

In the second hearing which began in July 2013, the Minister made sure to follow the guidelines strictly.

Hon. Wilfred Elrington - Minister of Foreign Affairs
"The court of appeal was very clear in its judgment and decision and gave me very good guidelines as to what were my powers and gave me examples of how those powers were in fact exercised. The thing that influenced me most of all was really the impact which the extradition would have had on the children; he has 3 children, the last one Gabriela is a young girl who is seriously autistic really and the indications are that there is no proper medical care that she can access here in Belize. The care is expensive. It was evident to me that in fact if the father was sent back the children would have a very difficult time. Already given the length of this time the children are already suffering. The affidavit evidence was to the fact that the mother and the children are now living with relatives. The 2 business which they had really are down to almost last now. They have moved from a high of employing 25 people in the society to only 4 core people working for them."

"I was also mindful of the fact that this has taken an inordinately long time. I don't think there has been another case that has taken such a long time to be resolved. It's almost quarter of a century; 25 years. Its 24 years almost since he has been going through this. I don't think that the system should be so slow and dilatory in getting justice and justice delayed is justice denied."

The Foreign Minister told us that in the first review of the case, he concluded that Rhett Fuller should have faced his charges in Miami. Now with the guidance of the Appeals Court and from his own research, he is now of the view that his decision has implications for not only one man, but his entire family, greater than that, the entire country.

Hon. Wilfred Elrington - Minister of Foreign Affairs
"I have to think in a broad context. I have to think about the social as well as the political issues. And really now I make this decision as a politician, as a member of the executive, it falls upon me now to make the political decision and because I have to make a political decision I have to see how it is going to impact the country even broader."

"I look not only on the impact that it's going to have on the children, but also look on the impact that it will have on my country. You have a family which is very likely going to be disintegrating if i were to send him back."

In his deliberation on this case, he must have had to consider the impact that the denial of the extradition request would have on the country's relationship with the US Government. He said that the US Government would have to understand.

Hon. Wilfred Elrington - Minister of Foreign Affairs
"The United States is a country which also believes in the rule of law and the United States believes that one should act in accordance with one's laws. I am acting fully in accordance with our law and I have made that very clear so that they and their judiciary should understand. I can't see that having any adverse effect on our relationship with United States."

Today, the family promised us an interview on today's decision, but later, they sent a press release saying, quote, "I ask the media to allow me the time to be with my wife and children; I have received an overwhelming amount of well wishes and congratulations for which I am grateful."

It adds, quote, "Words cannot describe the overwhelming happiness and joy that I feel from finally being home with my children and family after all these years. "