(DURHAM) -- Michael Peterson is getting a first real taste of life out of prison, although he is not exactly a free man.  He will be electronically monitored under house arrest until a new murder trial can take place.

Peterson said Thursday evening that he is happy to be out from behind bars and wants to reconnect with those close to him. "What I want to do now though is to spend time with my family and with my children and certainly at a later time I'd be happy to talk with everybody and share more.  Thank you very, very much," said Peterson as he exited the Durham County jail Thursday night.

Peterson was convicted in 2003 of murdering his wife, Kathleen in 2001. His defense successfully got a judge to grant the new trial after showing that evidence from former SBI investigator Duane Deaver was called into question.

The State Attorney General could appeal Peterson's release.  A date for the new trial has not been set.