Pamela Smart Gunman Paroled

[SusanNorton]

Do any of you remember this story?

Pamela Smart Murder Case Gunman Granted Parole | NECN

I know this guy killed Pamela Smart's husband, but I saw his picture online today and just found it so sad - a life wasted. He was a troubled kid, manipulated by someone hired to help him. I hope he gets himself together and makes the most of what's left of his life.

 

[Sigmund]

Yes, ma'am. I do remember the story.

IMO-Pamela Smart, an adult and teacher, took advantage (technically raped) of a young, troubled, hormonal, teen and bent him to her will. (As you stated, MANIPULATED him.)

Yes, I understand, he pulled the trigger. Yes, he pulled the trigger that killed Greg Smart...but if not for Pamela Smart ... this murderous domino effect would not have happened.

Crud.

 

[swiftdog2.0]

I remember.

Guys is the same age as me. And he is a moron who was thinking with the wrong head.

He should not have been paroled. Seventeen is old enough to know its wrong to shoot the husband of the teacher you're having an affair with. Crime of passion? Yes. Is that an excuse? No. Twenty-five years is not long enough of a punishment. He killed someone.

BTW, Ms Not So Smart is serving a life sentence without parole. She's exactly where she belongs.

 

[blunthead]

Do any of you remember this story?

Pamela Smart Murder Case Gunman Granted Parole | NECN

I know this guy killed Pamela Smart's husband, but I saw his picture online today and just found it so sad - a life wasted. He was a troubled kid, manipulated by someone hired to help him. I hope he gets himself together and makes the most of what's left of his life.

I remember it. I think the movie To Die For is based on this crime.

 

[Dana Jean]

I remember it. I think the movie To Die For is based on this crime.

Love the movie To Die For. Yes, it is based on this. Pamela Smart has a recent documentary in hopes that she will be let go or a new trial. It's fascinating stuff.

 

[Lepplady]

Kid was old enough to know what he was doing. No matter what the reason, he had the choice not to pull that trigger. And he did. I get the feeling that he was painted as a sweet, helpless child to make him more sympathetic to the court. Kids younger than him get life for less. He shouldn't have been let go.

 

[GNTLGNT]

I remember.

Guys is the same age as me. And he is a moron who was thinking with the wrong head.

He should not have been paroled. Seventeen is old enough to know its wrong to shoot the husband of the teacher you're having an affair with. Crime of passion? Yes. Is that an excuse? No. Twenty-five years is not long enough of a punishment. He killed someone.

BTW, Ms Not So Smart is serving a life sentence without parole. She's exactly where she belongs.

...he did his time...mayhap he'll be able to give something back now-rather than take at the taxpayers expense....

 

[GNTLGNT]

Kid was old enough to know what he was doing. No matter what the reason, he had the choice not to pull that trigger. And he did. I get the feeling that he was painted as a sweet, helpless child to make him more sympathetic to the court. Kids younger than him get life for less. He shouldn't have been let go.

...not if they aren't adjudicated as an adult...otherwise, at 21-they're done....

 

[Lepplady]

...not if they aren't adjudicated as an adult...otherwise, at 21-they're done....

If he wasn't tried as an adult, he have been. There are kids 14 and 15 years old being tried as adults for murder. He didn't make some "mistake." He pointed a gun at a man's head and pulled the trigger. I don't care what head he's thinking with, that's murder.

 

[Kurben]

If hes done 25 years hasn't he done his time? What was he sentenced to? Considering all i think the decision was correct. Lets see what he makes of his parole. I just don't believe in locking people up and throwing away the key. Even if it is murder.

 

[GNTLGNT]

If he wasn't tried as an adult, he have been. There are kids 14 and 15 years old being tried as adults for murder. He didn't make some "mistake." He pointed a gun at a man's head and pulled the trigger. I don't care what head he's thinking with, that's murder.

...whoa there Missy!!...I'm not arguing the point that he did the crime, and that some teens have been tried as an adult...just that the time has been served..remember, I work behind the wire...I'm the farthest thing from a "hug-a-thug"...but just because YOU think he hasn't served long enough, in the eyes of the State-he did....and his life on the outside will probably be short and deadly...that's karma....

 

[Lepplady]

If hes done 25 years hasn't he done his time? What was he sentenced to? Considering all i think the decision was correct. Lets see what he makes of his parole. I just don't believe in locking people up and throwing away the key. Even if it is murder.

...whoa there Missy!!...I'm not arguing the point that he did the crime, and that some teens have been tried as an adult...just that the time has been served..remember, I work behind the wire...I'm the farthest thing from a "hug-a-thug"...but just because YOU think he hasn't served long enough, in the eyes of the State-he did....and his life on the outside will probably be short and deadly...that's karma....

The guy he killed is still dead. That guy will never have a chance to make anything of the rest of his life. I'll grant you that locking this kid up for life won't bring him back. But compare his sentence to his girlfriend's. He pulled the trigger and now he's free. She was nowhere near the place, and she got life. Even if she was the so-called "mastermind" - of which I am not convinced - it was his finger on the trigger, and he pulled it. He could have at any point said "No, I'm not doing this" and turned her in to the cops if he was being coerced to commit a crime. He chose to go through with it.
I can understand arresting and jailing somebody for a hit-for-hire, but she didn't pay the kid. IF, as he claims, she said "Do it or I'll break up with you," I have to wonder how that plugs into her culpability. There's no payment and no threat of bodily harm or extortion. "I'll break up with you?" Okay. See ya.
You guys are right. He served the time he was given. Done deal. I'll just never agree that his sentence as the guy that actually pulled the trigger should have been less than the "mastermind" who they say was behind it. Props to the kid's lawyer, though. He sure did his job.

 

[swiftdog2.0]

...he did his time...mayhap he'll be able to give something back now-rather than take at the taxpayers expense....

I just feel he should serve more time. Maybe something equal to the number of years his victim would have lived had he not been shot.

 

[GNTLGNT]

I just feel he should serve more time. Maybe something equal to the number of years his victim would have lived had he not been shot.

....I truly do share everyone's frustration...I have to deal with the ongoing sentencing fubars everyday...it is an endless source of anger and frustration...my feeling has always been "let the punishment fit the crime", and that's only been cemented further by working in Corrections...

 

[blunthead]

I just feel he should serve more time. Maybe something equal to the number of years his victim would have lived had he not been shot.

This is a seriously interesting approach which could work in general I suppose, except for sentencing someone who murdered an elderly person.

 

[Kurben]

If you murder a 20-year old or a 80-year old ought not to bear on the time spent behind bars. Murder is murder. You can of course take circumstances in consideration but i don't think it is a good idea to let the victims age influence the sentence. If it isn't a child or anything perhaps.

 

[blunthead]

If you murder a 20-year old or a 80-year old ought not to bear on the time spent behind bars. Murder is murder. You can of course take circumstances in consideration but i don't think it is a good idea to let the victims age influence the sentence. If it isn't a child or anything perhaps.

You're probably right, Kurben.