The killer of Pamela Smart’s husband will be a free man this spring.
William Flynn, who turned 41 today, was unanimously granted parole Thursday after the New Hampshire Parole Board cited his decade of good behavior – adding that he was an “exemplary” inmate throughout his 25 years in prison.
At sixteen Flynn pleaded guilty to conspiring with his former teacher and lover Pamela Smart to shoot and kill her husband, Greg Smart, in Derry in 1990. Smart is currently serving a life sentence.
Flynn, who attended the hearing by telephone while serving his time in Maine, said Thursday that he is a changed man.
“I will always feel terrible for what happened 25 years ago, parole will not change that. The regret and responsibility I feel is a part of me and not condition of where I reside,” Flynn said.
The victim’s cousin, Val Fryatt, who attended the hearing, disagreed with his early release.
“Greg should have been here to watch the Smart family grow leaps and bounds but instead he is a memory we share with our children,” Fryatt said.
The victim’s brother, Dean Smart, said he has come to terms with his release but he asked that Flynn take advantage of this second chance.
"I'd like to see him do something great with the rest of his life, he has a great opportunity to start a new life," Smart said
"He could be a mentor, he could do great things, he could join a church, he could volunteer at the soup kitchen, he could help homeless people, he could do something great. He could be a saint. He could turn it around, he could redeem himself with great actions, hopefully to erase the evil things that he has done."
Flynn, who plans to live with his wife in Maine once released on June 4th, said he will try to be a better man.
“I will try to do something with my life that matters and makes a difference, and he has my promise,” Flynn said.
