Former attorney says Susan Smith should not be released on parole

On Wednesday, Susan Smith will go before a parole board to ask to be released from prison.

She has spent decades behind bars after being convicted of murdering her children. The case received a lot of attention when it was first reported as a carjacking and kidnapping, and it is getting attention again.

Susan Smith will explain why she should be released from prison on parole.

The board will also hear from other witnesses, including current 16th District Attorney Kevin Brackett and former attorney Tommy Pope. Smith’s ex-husband, the father of her children, will also address the board. They will all argue that Smith should remain in prison.

Pope, who was the lead prosecutor in her case 30 years ago, told Channel 9’s Tina Terry the basis of his argument this week.

“Two things: truth in the sentencing; she got life (and the jury thought it should have that sentence. Second, her behavior in prison is exactly contrary to the jury’s belief that she would be remorseful and reflective the kids,” Pope said.

Earlier this month, we told you when Smith broke prison rules by communicating with a filmmaker and accepting money from them while behind bars.

Pope believes that will affect her push for parole on Wednesday.

Thirty years ago, a life sentence meant the possibility of parole. However, Pope says the jury didn’t know that. In 1996, the law was changed to make a life sentence in South Carolina mean the entire life of the convicted person.

We’ll be streaming Smith’s parole hearing on Wednesday. Watch at WSOCTV.com and on the WSOC-TV app.

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