BROWARD COUNTY, Fla. -- A man's murder conviction in the death of a woman who had silicone injected into her buttocks during an illegal "pumping party" has been overturned.

Mark Hawkins, 41, was convicted of felony murder in 2003 for the death of 52-year-old Vera Lawrence. Wednesday, the Fourth District Court of Appeals overturned the conviction.

The court cited testimony of Assistant Medical Examiner Dr. Erston Price saying that she was not an expert regarding this of type of death. The court went on to say that since Price was not qualified, her testimony is inadmissible.

The court opinion also said the state failed to prove the necessary elements of the crime.

Hawkins' attorney is filing a motion to get a hearing to try to get him released as soon as possible. Hawkins will stay in jail for at least the next 15 days. The Attorney General's Office has 15 days to respond to the judge's ruling.

Hawkins had been sentenced to 30 years in prison for third-degree murder, culpable negligence, and practicing medicine without a license.

Lawrence died after she was injected with silicone in April 2001.

During the trial, prosecutors said Hawkins and his partner Donnie Hendrix would buy a gallon of silicone for about $8, and then tour the country hosting so-called "pumping parties." They allegedly injected women and transgender people who wanted cut-rate "body sculpting" or cosmetic enhancements.

Prosecutors said that Lawrence's death was a direct result of the silicone injections. Hawkins and Hendrix injected 12,000 cc's of industrial strength silicone into each of Lawrence's buttocks.

Hendrix was given the maximum sentence of five years for operating without a license. He was given "time served" for a culpable negligence conviction.

Lawrence's family has vowed to fight Hawkins release and said they will appeal the decision.