YOUR COMMENTS

I feel bad for everyone. The Smarts and for Pam's victims. This grown-up used kids as her pawns. And today the Smart Family is still getting salt poured into their wounds. And its not fair. I truley belive that Bill is sorry but I also feel that he should serve out the remander of his time, and not show his face back in court til his 40 is up. That would be the right thing to do for Gregg's family.
- angela, MANCHESTER,NH

Bill Flynn committed Murder. I don't care if he was only 12 years old, he knew that pulling that trigger would take away Gregg Smarts life. He doesn't deserve any parole, never mind early parole!
- George, Manchester, nh

the boys who were convinced to commit that horrible crime were also victims as well. the men that remain have suffered for it as they will for the rest of their lives.
- mike m, standish me

Firstly, after having been a close friend to both Gregg and Pame I can say this has been a long (almost) 18 yr. With the constant news articles & TV blurbs throughout the years. Not to mention flipping through the channels and stopping at what appeared to be a "Cop" show...only to find out I was viewing my dead friend Gregg laying on the floor of his condo. Horrifying.

I think the way Dean spoke last Friday was from his heart. No one has the right to say he did it wrong or should have done it like this unless they have lost their brother to this kind of media sensationalized death. I was proud of both Dean and his father. They were both very brave to address the person that killed their loved one. Not an easy task. And I will not slight Bill's courage to address his family and friends there as well.

As I sat in the courthouse that day, I truly believed Bill was sorry. Do I think he would ever kill again? No. Does it take away from what he did to my friend? No. Let's not forget that he should have received the same as Pame in the state of NH for premeditated 1st degree murder. However, b/c he plea bargained...it was reduced to 2nd degree. (28 - 40) Here it is 17 yrs later....he would like to get out.

Well, I'm sorry. Gregg begged for his life...even at that point if Bill had any compassion he could have walked away....but he didn't. He took Gregg's life b/c his other option was to take his own. I'm sorry at 13 yrs old you know it is wrong to kill someone NO MATTER WHAT OR WHO WANTS YOU TO DO IT. I'd venture to say even a 4 yr old knows that. That’s if it even went down the way they say!

I'm glad that he apologized. I'm sure it meant alot to Gregg's dad.

Bill staying in jail another 10 yrs might not bring Gregg back, however, it will show people that when you are sentenced that is the sentence. You WILL have to serve it out whether you are "good" in jail or not. You SHOULD be GOOD in jail.

Many people have rough upbringings and don't have any self esteem, but if we start letting everyone out of jail early b/c they are sorry, doing what they should in jail and want to be with their new family no one will be serving a full sentence. And aren't most people in jail b/c they made a bad choice?

As they say do the crime...do the time. He should be thankful that he didn't get life in jail without chance of parole. And lastly, if he was truly sorry...he would serve his sentence which would be taking responsibility for his actions. Rather than dragging Gregg's family to the courtroom again to face the person the killed their loved one. Their open wound will never begin heal this way.
- GC, Manchester

I think we can all think back to the stupid things we did when we were 15/16. Maybe not as stupid as killing someone... but then most of us didn't have a pretty adult blond lover asking us to do it. He was a child who did an adult crime, I think its time to treat him like an adult who did a crime as a child.

The true killer is in for life, give this "kid" a break.
- Sean, Salem NH

Only in NH would a murderer be up for parole for opening his mouth and the "seductress" in the pen for life. Tabloid justice is only one thing - Pathetic!
I agree with all of the comments about Flynn being "manipulated" into murder as trash. He had a free will and could have made the right choice. Anyone who would choose murder must pay the full consequences.
Even if he serves the full term of his sentence, he should thank heaven for tabloid justice.
- Dennis, Hooksett

I was friends with Pam Smart when this was all going on. Through the funeral and all she had EVERYONE feeling so sorry for her, poor poor Pam...NOPE! She raped and seduced a CHILD. She brainwashed him. At 15-16 yrs of age he didn't have the maturity to look ahead at his actions and how they would effect people in the long run. All he saw was a "women" whom he thought he loved.
I believe that he is sorry and in my opinion I think that he should be put into some sort of minimum security in which he can work outside of the prison (closely monitored) and see how he relates to the "real world". It would be a start to recovery for all involved.
What he did was wrong, no doubt about that. He has served his time and now I believe that it's time to see if he can be reintroduced in society.
- Heather, Manchester

He is a murderer. He knew exactly what he was doing at the time. He pretends to show remorse. The only person he feels sorry for is himself. Also, it doesn't sound like he doing hard time to me. What about the Smart family? It should be their decision. Greg begged for his life to be spared and was shot in cold blood. Let Bill finish his sentence in jail, he deserves it.
- Mike, Londonderry

Prison sentences are supposed to protect society from predators. Nothings indicates that William Flynn will be a threat to society. Keeping him in prison may comfort the Smart family but that is not the purpose of our penal system. A minor did a horrific thing -- he was sentenced as an adult and has done what he can to rehabilitate himself. There is not one reason to continue to keep him behind bars.
- terri, Goffstown, NH

I being around the same age as Flynn remember my teen years. Yes you are easily manipulated and sometimes desperate but you never forget between right and wrong. For him to think he has spent enough time behind bars for what he did tells me he's still doesn't know between right and wrong. He should be thankful for the chance to get out after 28 years. Even if he did 40 years he could have a longer life out of jail than Greg had at all.
- Paul David Tardiff, Manchester

It doesn't take a rocket scientist to know right from wrong, even at 16. I'm sure Flynn knew he wasn't playing "make believe."

I witnessed bravery from Bill Smart in accepting the apolgy; acknowledging Flynn made a hideous error of judgment and morality.

Accepting an apology does not obsolve someone from fulfilling their penance. If Flynn wasn't tyo show he's rehabilitated, it starts with the character of fulfilling his committment, and the solace of knowing he has no one else to blame but himself.

When Flynn does get paroled he will have the self esteem to know he paid his debt to society.
- David DiBello, Lakewood

Men who think it is plausible that an otherwise good person could be manipulated into cold blooded pointless murder by a woman's looks need to do a little self-examination in the mirror, they may have a deep problem with women themselves. It is absolutely ridiculous to mix this tabloid-driven headline-writer's defense with reality. If I put 100 young men in the same position as Flynn I would expect NONE of them to do what he did - NONE! I suppose the kid who slit Half Zantops's throat in Hanover was manipulated by his buddy too? Burglary with murder is as bad a crime as a person can commit. It is a public safety no-brainer, even if the Smarts wanted him out, KEEP HIM LOCKED UP.
- T Rhodes, Manchester

When Greg Smart gets a parole from his grave, I would then consider a parole for Bill Flynn.
- Norm Landers, Sanford, Florida

He was 16. A juvenile, according to our system. Juveniles are treated differently for a reason - because their brains aren't fully developed and they don't have the "brakes" that adults do. This is proven by science. Flynn was tried as an adult because of his crime, and he is taking it like the man he has grown into. But he is a different person and has done what we never hear about prisoners doing. Give him a break.
- Dani, Manchester

He's joined the NAACP - puh-lease give me a break! He's not an electrician, he an electrician's assistant, a laborer basically, big deal, there is nothing to be trusted about fiddling with security cameras, he's basically making sure none of his fellows jumps him for ratting without being caught on camera. He's weepy and ashamed, no kidding! THIS GUY PUT A BULLET IN THE HEAD OF A MAN WHO'S HOME HE BROKE INTO! DO I NEED TO REPEAT THAT? There is no rehabilitation going on here, he is just not a discipline problem, good for him. You let this monster out for his acting skills and we will all be sorry one day.
- J Smith, Nashua

Flynn does appear rehabilitated. I feel the penalty has been paid. He serves absolutely no use to society rotting away in prison. He was a youngster with nothing, being manipulated by a sexy woman in Pam Smart, brainwashed basically. Having served over half his life in prison, now is the time to let him out.
- Bob, Dryden,NY

Bruce, that is his step-child, not his natural child.
- Dan, Weare

William Flynn was a child when he did a horrible sad, life changing thing, that he will have to live with for the rest of his life. If he had killed my son i would put the blame were it belongs with Pam and give William a chance to a life.
- Robin Gill, Portland, me

I can see that I'm in the minority in comparison to the opinions of other readers and contributors to this story. I can assure readers that this judge will make the correct decision regarding Flynn's request for early release. It is also my opinion that the Judge will deny his request. I think the 20 year mark would have been more appropriate for Flynn's request. Having served as a juror where this Judge presided I can assure readers that his decision will be fair. The entire jury that I sat on had the utmost of respect for this Judge's level of fairness and as well, his intimate knowledge of "people" and their true charecter impressed all of us. However I stand by my previous writing that rehabilitation has ocurred and I believe that Mr. Flynn has been sufficiently punished. I can fully understand the Fanily's vengence regarding the loss of their shining Son. However all the punishment in the world will not bring him back. If the full sentence will bring them closure than so be it. I have a Son the same age as Greg when he departed this earth. Yesterdays hearing was certainly an emotional one and a reflection of the type of world that we now live in. If I thought another 10 years in prison would bring about a better outcome of this situation I'd be all for serving the remainder of the time, but I think not. I think Mr. Flynn is not snowing the court regarding his remorse and I think that another 10 years or so of punishment will not accomplish anything other than satisfying the family' s thirst for the maximum level of punishment and vengence. I also think that Mr. Flynn's accomplishments toward rehab (and accepting the punishment)are a good example of one inmates success at turning himself around while in prison. After all that is the purpose of our prison system. Though it is not an acceptable excuse one has to remember that Mr. Flynn was 15 years old at the time. He made an aweful stupid decision based on the actions of a very evil woman. I just don't think that another 10 years will accomplish anything more than additional punishment but if thats what everyone wants then maybe it's the right thing to do and my opinion is out of whack.
- Bob Ahern, Derry

Murder is murder, and if we are ever going to deter it in NH, we need to abide by the sentences we hand out. 28 years is 28 years.

Greg Smart's family has a life sentence and this was a brutal murder for hire. I have no doubt that spending the last 17 years in prison makes Flynn sorry.

Apparently prison life has changed though, he can get married and have a family? What happened to hard time for murderers?

Come back in 28 years, and ask again. Maybe...
- Pete, Keene

I truely believe that Bill Flynn is sorry. But I am sure that many jailed murderers, rapists, etc. are sorry. Billy Flynn killed a man. The man was very young and never had a chance to really live his life. I think Flynn should do his time. Shooting someone who is begging for his life and doing it for sex is just wrong and is worth at least 28 years in prison.
- Tracy, Manchester, NH

What kind of prison system allows a killer doing 28 to life to marry and father a child while serving his sentence? Is part of his plea for a reduction based on having a family to take care of? What irony!
- Bruce Alger, Derry

I realize he was young and Im sure influenced by Pam... She is paying for that..BUT- No one can make you pull a trigger and hold a knife... No excuses. I doubt Pam was holding him hostage and pointing a gun at him..That would be the only excuse in my eyes. I put myself and their shoes and I wouldnt let him out for killing ANYONE in my family. He made that man pay the ultimate price, and I feel he must equivelant to that.....Just my opinion.
- Ann, Manchester

If our justice system is based on "An eye for an eye" type revenge approach to controlling crime, then Flynn should stay in prison for his whole life or be killed for killing another. Just as people in Saudi Arabia have their hand cut off for stealing a loaf of bread. But if our justice system is based on a reform and rehabilitation model, then Flynn should be released now, because it sounds like he has rehabilitated himself. I personally believe that the reform/rehabilitation approach to controlling criminal activity is not only more humane, but also more effective. Unfortunately, we seem to mix the two approaches here in the US and I think this is where the problem lies in our criminal justice system.
- Karl Rosengrant, Springfield VT

"Took over his mind"? Sorry, I'm not buying that. Back in the hole with him.
- Bruce M., Brentwood

I agree with Bill, from Candia. It is time for forgiveness. And Joe, if right is right, and wrong is wrong, we would all be in jail, and we would not have cheese on our burgers.
- Dave K, Pembroke

He was a child when he was seduced and he has shown nothing but sincere remorse for his actions. Although I sympathize with the families involved prison is not there for revenge, it is there to be sure this person never commits that act again and I think that goal has been more than reached in this case. Rest assured that Flynn if released is absolutely zero threat to society and the intended point of his incarceration has been reached. Let the kid go, further prison time serves absolutely no purpose.
- Jim, Raymond

Dean Smart did not do anything for the prosecution in his statements. They were delivered poorly and in a way that seemed to suggest that he was "show boating". Should have had some class like his father.
- Jenny, Seabrook

He was 15 yrs. old when she raped him and took over his mind.....give Bill a chance.
- Bill, Candia

If Pam has to stay in jail for life.. .and she didn't even pull the trigger, then HE SHOULD TOO!....... what's good for one, should be good for all... bottom line, right is right and wrong is wrong.
- Joseph, manchester