Man convicted in deadly US fire freed A MAN jailed for more than 40 years for an Arizona hotel fire that killed 29 people has walked free hours after reaching a plea deal with prosecutors. The arrangement marks a stunning reversal for Louis Taylor, who was 16 when arrested in the 1970 fire at the Pioneer Hotel, where aircraft company workers were holding a Christmas party. "It's a tale of two tragedies: the Pioneer Hotel fire and my conviction," he told reporters gathered outside the prison. When he appeared in a packed Tucson courtroom earlier in the day, Taylor faced a choice: continue his fight, maybe for years more, to clear his name or enter a plea and get out of prison now. The deal meant he would no longer contest the charges he previously denied. Earlier, the 58-year-old showed no reaction as he said "no contest" 28 different times - for each murder count levelled against him. When it was all finished, Superior Court Judge Richard Fields said, "Welcome back." Taylor was sentenced to 28 consecutive life sentences. He has repeatedly maintained his innocence. A black man, he contends he was wrongly convicted by an all-white jury after police failed to investigate other suspects. Reports at the time indicate he was helping people escape the blaze before being arrested later that night. Prosecutors still believe he is guilty but say they will not be able to pursue a new trial due to a lack of evidence and living witnesses. Taylor did not speak in court on his own behalf. The hearing was marked by dramatic testimony from a Washington DC man who was 4 years old when his father was killed in the fire at the age of 31. Paul d'Hedouville II said his dad was staying at the hotel and waiting for his family to arrive for a Christmas holiday, with gifts in his suite. "Instead, my father was buried on Christmas Eve 1970," d'Hedouville said.