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LIVE: Susan Smith Parole Hearing | Court TV — Transcript

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0:00is I just need to confirm there is some
0:02other conversation is everything okay
0:05yes ma'am we are ready thank
0:07you thank you so much Miss Hunter if you
0:10can advise when the recording has
0:14begun the record has
0:16begun thank you the time now was 11:41
0:19a.m. we're resuming our hearings our
0:23next case will be case number
0:2634 case number 34 Susan Smith
0:31one moment as leth connects and she does
0:34have supporters and we'll be represented
0:37by attorney Tommy Thomas thank you one
0:40moment as all parties connect Miss Brown
0:42henryan I do have a statement that I
0:44need to read into the record
0:46please yes ma'am thank you I have
0:50received this
0:52correspondence it is address to the
0:54honorable chair Kimberly Frederick dated
0:56November 20th
0:582024 please be advised that I will
1:01recuse myself in the parl hearing of
1:03Susan Smith number
1:0722487 I was acting Warden at Camille
1:10Graham Correctional Center in 1999 where
1:13inmate Smith was housed and subsequently
1:16transferred to Le Correctional
1:17Institution I have determined that it is
1:20appropriate to recuse to eliminate any
1:22appearance of affecting her opportunity
1:25for parole respectfully Gerald deine p m
1:30thank you Mrs miror this is accepted if
1:32you would please exit the
1:34room thank
1:42you Mrs miror has recused herself of
1:45this case and has exited the R thank
1:49you thank you we have moved her site
1:52into the lobby
1:54briefly and one moment as we admit to
1:57all parties
2:12there at Le May I'm confirming you are
2:14Miss Susan
2:17Smith yes
2:19ma'am you and attorney Tommy Thomas are
2:22you able to hear us yes ma'am I am thank
2:25you and they're at the support site
2:26confirm you are hearing support of Miss
2:28Susan Smith
2:31they asking can you
2:34hear yes we can
2:36hear and you're here in support of Miss
2:40Smith yes yes ma'am thank you all for
2:43joining you are before the board please
2:44wait for the chairman to address you
2:47good morning Miss Smith good morning Mr
2:49Thomas and good morning to the folks at
2:51Watkins thank you all for being here
2:53with us today we hope everyone is doing
2:56well miss Smith I want you to know that
2:58we have received the packet of
3:00information that Mr Thomas's office
3:02provided to us on your behalf and we
3:05have reviewed that packet say thank you
3:07for subing that in advance of this
3:09hearing today Mr Thomas are you going to
3:12begin or is your client going to
3:14begin uh yes ma'am I'll be glad to begin
3:17yes
3:19sir uh members of the board good morning
3:22uh this is Susan Smith's um role hearing
3:26this has probably been one of the most
3:28difficult cases that um I have had to
3:32put together for a parole presentation
3:35um just lots of different factors to
3:37consider um she's been convicted of
3:40murder of course uh she has served 30
3:43years and she was 23 at the time that
3:46this incident occurred um she was
3:48sentenced to life with the elig
3:50eligibility of pro so that's why she is
3:52here today um I'm not really going to
3:56speak much about the crime um there are
3:58some things that I want to cover
4:00and that's not out of
4:02disrespect um we were very concerned
4:04about that um today is Susan's parole
4:09hearing and uh so today it's going to be
4:12about Susan and I want to make sure that
4:15uh the things that are important not
4:17only to her uh but to this hearing and
4:20this board um are presented and I want
4:23to thank you in advance for your time um
4:26to listen to everything um this story
4:30is really a mental health story um some
4:34of this stuff I've known Susan for a
4:36couple of years and we've been working
4:38on this case um one of the things when I
4:41first met her was of course trying to
4:44kind of figure out some Rhyme or Reason
4:47as to you know how these things have
4:49happened and uh was able to uh find and
4:54have uh someone come to see her on a
4:56routine basis for uh counseling
5:00and um also to try to help her you know
5:03through the daily things with Department
5:05of Corrections um as a result that's
5:09kind of what I kind of uh came to the
5:11conclusion was it is a mental health
5:13story um it's about uh the dangers of
5:18untreated mental health it is about um
5:22the lack of insight the lack of
5:25diagnosis into mental health and it's
5:28about stigma uh old stigmas um of course
5:32I'm 68 years old I remember those um
5:35hopefully they're not as bad today Susan
5:38was hospitalized uh as a young teen uh
5:42for a short period of time uh for mental
5:45health treatment and not to disparage
5:49anybody but her mom um was telling folks
5:52that she was in the hospital because she
5:54had a um strip uh infection so those
5:58were things that we didn't talk about
6:00those were things that um were pushed
6:03under the rug so to speak because they
6:06were embarrassing they showed weakness I
6:09don't know what they showed um but they
6:11showed up and culminated in Susan um as
6:16a result of a day that all of this uh
6:21came together and produced um some
6:24horrendous um results so I think it's
6:27important to Susan if anybody
6:30if anything comes out of this hearing
6:32it's that people understand um there's
6:36nothing to be ashamed of um there is
6:39nothing and no reason not to reach out
6:41and seek treatment and there is
6:44certainly um no Stigma that should be
6:48involved in trying to better yourself
6:50and help yourself um for yourself and
6:53for others members of the family and
6:55everyone Susan uh moving on Susan is a
6:58high school graduate
7:00she has uh some college with uh USC
7:03Union she uh has attended International
7:06Christian college and she's worked on an
7:08associates degree she's still actually
7:10working on that uh in Christian
7:13Counseling um she has no prior record
7:15that I'm aware of uh if Paro she would
7:18be living with her brother uh Scotty
7:21vongh Scotty is here today and very
7:23briefly wanted to address the board the
7:26job for her um she has served year 30
7:28years so she she's been in Department
7:30Corrections for a long time would be
7:32through vocational rehab on the P
7:35program as probational parole uh would
7:38know it and we have made arranged much
7:41for after care uh with a licensed mental
7:45health professional uh you have that
7:47information in the packet that's been
7:48provided to you um some of the programs
7:53that I took the time to look at
7:55everything to look at the programs that
7:57she's been involved in and um I'm not
8:00going to speak about all of those that
8:02you because you have those in the packet
8:04uh the ones that I think are important
8:06and relevant to Dave uh is the uh self
8:11harmers group uh she has committed uh
8:15attempted to commit suicide uh on
8:18several different occasions within the
8:19Department of Corrections uh seven
8:22habits uh Beyond abuse jump start uh
8:26which she is a great fan of she does not
8:28have um a drug or alcohol addiction
8:32thank goodness um she has been active on
8:35OVO and the cipher Works programs uh
8:38loss and grief uh healing seminars
8:42women's empowerment anger management
8:45self-esteem and domestic violence uh
8:49workshops I normally and I've presented
8:52a number of parole hearings um I first
8:55started with this thinking that it had
8:58to be different than than normally what
9:00I would do as far as a
9:02presentation um and I came to the
9:04conclusion maybe this week and it
9:06doesn't um I think it is and I will
9:09stick with what I would normally do in
9:11as far as the structure of my
9:14presentation um what I always begin with
9:17with the board is contributing factors
9:19because I believe that's important um we
9:23need to know um what was going on why it
9:27was going on for the board to be able to
9:30uh make a informed decision about her
9:33parole um expectations and her parole
9:36eligibility uh and um what kind of
9:39candidate she is for a parole one of the
9:42things that has jumped out at me and I
9:44saw this last night um in the media um
9:48and I know that Susan wants to speak and
9:50because she feels like it's important to
9:52get the truth out there is this is not
9:56about the love for another man um I saw
9:59it on local TV about uh how this was all
10:02about another man and and him not
10:04wanting children from what I have been
10:07able to determine that is just not true
10:10uh I had spoken with David Brooke who
10:12was the defense attorney on a number of
10:14different occasions uh David has been a
10:17great source of information uh in
10:19regards to Susan uh he indicated to me
10:23that uh this was a theory um of uh AO
10:30um by the state that's think that's
10:31where we think it developed uh however
10:35um this was never proven at trial and it
10:37was actually abandoned uh by the state
10:41so um but it has stuck and I just wanted
10:44to I know it's important to her to bring
10:46this to your attention um the
10:49contributing factors in this case were
10:51multiple stress points um they converged
10:54all at the same time and um we are
10:58certainly not trying um to to uh say
11:04anything about you know the horrific of
11:06this crime it is and she was found
11:08guilty but we're trying to kind of maybe
11:11present to the parole board how how
11:14these um things developed and how it's
11:18possible that something like this could
11:20happen um one of the things that has
11:23been important in her life and I think
11:25is a um a huge contributor uh to this CR
11:29time is the suicide of her dad at age
11:32six um
11:34horrific um just horrific and she was
11:38she blamed
11:40herself uh how could he leave me um and
11:44I think it sets the stage um for the
11:47beginning of some serious mental health
11:50issues some serious
11:51depression um which just kind of
11:54culminates and and continues to to
11:57snowball um and the lack of you know
12:00recognition and treatment for this issue
12:02with her dad I mean it was like uh the
12:05old stigma of um you know we just tough
12:09through these these terrible situations
12:12and you know that's how it's done um
12:14it's not done that way um there were
12:18some attempts to get some sort of
12:20psychological help for her after a
12:23couple of suicide attempts um and uh
12:27never read when anywhere she was the
12:31child um the adults in the picture um
12:34did not can't blame them I think it was
12:37the times uh did not seek and try to uh
12:42understand the depth and the
12:43significance of this and what it was
12:44going to produce um at a later date um
12:49severe
12:51depression
12:52um
12:54potentially um depression after um the
12:58birth of of her last child um which was
13:02also
13:03undiagnosed and that postpartum
13:06depression that existed in a severe
13:09situation um just in culmination and I
13:12apologize for reading something to the
13:14board but I've looked at so much
13:17material and if I can beg the board's uh
13:20attention for a few minutes I would like
13:22to say this and read this because I
13:25think it summarizes everything that I've
13:27been talking about and everything that
13:30um Susan uh wanted to talk about what
13:34happened um she said to me and this was
13:37not in preparation for parole I found
13:39this uh buried in a bunch of documents
13:43that had been provided to me and it is
13:46from Susan and she says I believe this
13:49is what happened to me on October 25th
13:531994 I lost touch with reality my
13:57thoughts were not rational nor logic I
14:00don't think I understood that if I
14:03allowed this car to go into the lake um
14:06that I would never see my children again
14:09the finality of it was not real to me
14:13because my thought were so screwed up at
14:15the time my mind I thought was doing
14:19what was best for them I knew Jesus
14:22would take better care of them than I
14:25could I was truly it was truly a moment
14:29of insanity there are no easy
14:33explanations and not um much
14:36understanding how can you make sense of
14:39something that is senseless and I think
14:42that um shows the remorse that she's had
14:46she's lived with this for forever since
14:49this thing um when I first met her and I
14:53would go and see her um remorse is
14:56difficult you know that's something with
14:58the pro here earings that I've presented
15:00for years is to how do you say uh how do
15:05you demonstrate remorse um people do it
15:07in different manners and I always look
15:09for that I always ask my clients um you
15:12know and and look for the remorse I
15:14could see the pain on her face um it was
15:19so difficult um talking about things
15:23were extremely difficult and not because
15:27she didn't want to talk about them is
15:29just because it was so hard to talk
15:31about them so I think that she is truly
15:34remorseful for what happened um and I
15:37think she would do anything in the world
15:40um to bring these children back but
15:44moving on to the next um consideration
15:47in this presentation is really changes
15:49what changes has she made in herself in
15:52prison one of the things I think is
15:54important is that she has no prior
15:56history um nothing that would lead up to
16:00believe that um someone would be capable
16:04of a crime of this nature which I think
16:06is also indicative of what their risk is
16:10if the board was um inclined to allow
16:14her to P participate on parole I don't
16:17think that was a is a risk and I think
16:19that's what our um counselor who uh had
16:23seen her on a regular basis for a number
16:26of years also uh indicated that it was
16:29very low risk she's been IRC uh chairman
16:33uh within the institution that means
16:36something um you're voted on by your
16:38peers and uh it is an honor um to be in
16:42that position she is a been a math tutor
16:45in education she's helped uh numerous
16:48inmates uh obtain their GED she's been
16:51in the character arts
16:53program uh prison fellowship which is I
16:56think is extremely important to her um
16:59she's much stronger in her faith um than
17:02she has ever been um and that is a
17:07comfort for her it's something that um
17:11that she enjoys it's something that is
17:12extremely important jump start good
17:15program um she's been in that program um
17:19she would actually like to go to
17:21jumpstart if the board would consider
17:23her um for parole um he has been out of
17:27the program for a couple of years years
17:29and that would be she'd have to do some
17:31other things for that to happen so
17:33that's why we have chosen that um she
17:36would go and live with her brother good
17:38solid individual in the community
17:41willing to um uh help her in any manner
17:46and um one thing I've noticed from the
17:50family and friends is that we mourn with
17:54her um the pain of this crime
17:59but um we still love her and we're there
18:02for her um so she has that uh for her
18:07and uh which is a great resource if the
18:10board was going to consider um her for
18:13uh parole one of the other things I've
18:15noticed is giving back to the community
18:18uh arts and crafts she's made arts and
18:21crafts that she's donated to charity uh
18:23she's helped uh St judees um she's
18:27helped staff members
18:29she said that um an insight into what's
18:33going on with her um stand on her own
18:36two feet not to be influenced by others
18:40uh live a better life think before
18:43acting um and you know other people are
18:46affected by um your decisions and your
18:49actions and the importance of mental
18:51health I think that comes back into what
18:55we're talking about um St it's not an
18:59excuse but it is certainly uh some
19:02indication or maybe explanation as to U
19:06what was going on um the goals and this
19:10is is my final area for my presentation
19:13is
19:15that
19:16um I don't think she'll ever be able to
19:18forgive
19:19herself um that is something that she
19:22struggles with forever I don't think
19:24that creates a danger to anyone except
19:27potentially maybe a danger to her um her
19:31medications her mental health
19:33medications have been um balanced well U
19:37by the Department of Corrections um I
19:40think she thinks as clear now as she
19:42ever has um I think that she is able to
19:46establish goals and what she would like
19:49to do um in her life and and I think on
19:53the top of that list is to give back and
19:56to try to help others um she said that
20:01um no one should suffer um in the way
20:05that um uh in their treatment um there
20:09is there is help available and um she
20:12wants to help to get out and maybe help
20:15to promote that um that concept that
20:19there's help out there um you just have
20:21to seek it and um she said she'd like to
20:24live a quiet life she would welcome
20:27supervision uh if granted parole and
20:30maybe that is the best thing about this
20:32situation um from that type of s um
20:36situation is that uh if she's granted
20:39parole um it is for life and she will be
20:43supervised and she will be monitored by
20:46the uh Department of Probation and
20:48Parole services for the rest of her life
20:51um she said that she would welcome that
20:54because that is another pillar of
20:57stability that is available for her that
21:01she can reach out to and she said that
21:04that would be a vital and instrumental
21:06part of her life she loves animals um
21:09she said that would like to find a job
21:11helping with dogs and cats I often ask
21:15my clients um if you could choose and
21:19you could make these wishes come true
21:21what would you like to do you know what
21:23is the job that you truly would enjoy
21:26often that's different um
21:29than the job that we' have and um I
21:32think that job for Susan is the the Care
21:35for Animals and being involved in um in
21:40that area uh of help
21:46um in
21:48closing
21:53um I think that uh she has indicated to
21:57me that
21:59her desire is to um make her life mean
22:04something um something other than uh the
22:07things that that she has
22:09done um to make a positive impact in her
22:14life I talked to somebody I've spoken to
22:17a number of people and I've spoken to
22:20one person that told me um State they
22:25were at the trial and
22:29they said that their impression of Susan
22:31was that she was living to
22:34die um I didn't really understand that I
22:39think the more that I have uh been
22:43talking to her and preparing this case
22:46that um maybe I do um I think that has
22:50been Susan's life is living to die um
22:56for the things that she has done and um
23:01I think that what she's asking today is
23:05to bore is to ask the board to consider
23:08a parole for her um so maybe she can
23:12make something positive um out of a um a
23:16horrific situation I want to thank you
23:19for your time I know I've taken a lot of
23:21time today um I would just ask if you
23:24would please um consider her for for
23:27release thank you thank you Mr Thomas
23:29and we appreciate all your coms and
23:31again thank you for the the very
23:33detailed packet that you
23:35presented Miss Smith yes ma'am what
23:37would you like to tell us
23:44today first of all I want to say how
23:48very sorry I am um
24:05it's okay Susan
24:07just
24:09just just talk with
24:17us I know that what I do was horrible
24:24[Music]
24:33and I don't give anything if I can go
24:35back and change
24:37it and I love Michael and Alice with all
24:41my
24:41[Music]
24:53heart were you the influence of drugs or
24:56alcohol the night that you murdered your
24:58children
25:01no ma'am I was
25:03not your attorney your attorney talked
25:06about working with mental health is that
25:08helpful to
25:12you Ma'am Mr
25:15Thomas Mr Thomas talked about the fact
25:18that you were working with mental health
25:20and my question is is that helpful to
25:24you yes ma'am is that something that you
25:28would be willing to continue with on the
25:30outside if you were granted
25:35parole
25:39yes Miss Smith your crime took a lot of
25:43of resources from the law enforcement
25:46Community what if anything would you say
25:48to the folks who worked so hard to find
25:51your children if you had the opportunity
25:53to speak to them today
25:59that I'm sorry that I put them through
26:01that I really really am and I'm
26:04especially sorry to the I had to find
26:08them I wish I could take that back I
26:11really
26:13do I was really I didn't lie to get away
26:18with it really didn't I was just
26:21scared I didn't know how I could tell
26:24the people that loved him that they
26:25would never seen him
26:26again I didn't know how could tell David
26:29he couldn't see his sons
26:33again and I'm I'm I'm just I'm sorry I
26:37don't know I know that's not enough I
26:39know it's not but I don't know I know
26:43those just s like words but they come
26:44from my heart they really
26:47do right one of the things that we
26:50review is your institutional record and
26:52you've had some infractions throughout
26:54the years um some involving
26:59um the use of some narcotics do you have
27:02any issues with drugs or alcohol at this
27:06point I don't no ma'am I don't and you
27:09had a
27:10recent you had a recent disciplinary
27:13infraction just a few months
27:16ago so why should this board think that
27:20if we Grant you parole that you're going
27:21to go out and follow the rules and the
27:24laws of society if you do not follow the
27:27rules with in the
27:32institution well this last infraction
27:39um I was trusted the wrong person this
27:42lady contacted me and I trusted her I
27:45thought she was going to do a
27:47documentary on mental health and I
27:51really am not guilty of what they what
27:53they charged me with and I have filed an
27:56appeal on that charge
27:59um and as far as your question
28:05um I've never been in trouble before and
28:08the things that I have been found guilty
28:10of in
28:13here have been just stupidity I just
28:18made I I know I made a lot of mistakes
28:21in here and I have learned from them and
28:24before this last infraction had been 10
28:26years cuz I I grew up and I knew that I
28:30needed to stop making dumb decisions and
28:34I did I I just I knew it was time to
28:38just to grow up and do the right thing I
28:41just made a lot of dumb choices and
28:44mistakes in here so I know I've learned
28:47from those
28:48mistakes what do you feel is the most
28:52you've learned while you've been
28:55incarcerated ma'am what do you think is
28:57the most important thing that you have
28:59learned while you have been
29:05incarcerated that
29:09um that people are important that
29:14it's that forgiveness and love um that
29:19family is important and that decisions
29:23we make not just affect us they affect
29:25the people that we love
29:29and not to take things for people for
29:32granted all right is there anything else
29:35that you would like to tell us today
29:36that wasn't in your packet or that has
29:38not already been
29:42said um I would just like to say that
29:48um I am a Christian and God is a big
29:53part of my life and I know he has
29:56forgiven me and and it is by his grace
29:59and mercy that and I have a lot of faith
30:02and I live by that every day and I just
30:05ask that that you um show that same kind
30:09of Mercy as
30:11well
30:13um
30:16and I guess yeah that's it thank you are
30:21there any other questions from the
30:25board Folks at Watkins need each of you
30:28to please state your name for the record
30:30and your relationship to Miss Smith
30:33ma'am can we begin with you
30:45please man St your name in the
30:47[Music]
30:49relationship I did not is it is it I yes
30:54uh I'm an Curry I'm a longterm friend
30:58and um supporter C thank you Miss Curry
31:03and sir your name
31:07please and
31:10the St your relationship St relationship
31:15okay uh I'm the Reverend Tom Curry uh
31:20I've known Susan briefly when she was a
31:23teenager when I was called in for one
31:27session each counseling about two
31:29different matters once by her teacher
31:32and once by Susan and I testified at her
31:36trial uh which the in the sentencing
31:40phase and I have kept up with her uh by
31:44writing
31:48her thank we weekly for the last 30
31:52years I did this because I felt that she
31:57need needed somebody to remind her that
32:01her whole life was not caught up in that
32:05one experience but that she could put
32:09her life back together because her life
32:12was in such turmoil when all this
32:15happened and I think she's a different
32:17person now and that's what I want to
32:19talk about when I get a chance to say a
32:22word about it I have new hearing age and
32:25I can't always hear your question
32:28but my mind's fine and uh I'm just a
32:32retired Presbyterian Minister along well
32:35thank you Mr Curry we appreciate that
32:37and you're welcome you're welcome to
32:39make your statement that you would like
32:41to make right
32:43now all right okay I want to start with
32:47her trial uh uh Mr Curry let me
32:51interrupt before you get too far into
32:53that we are not here to retry her case
32:56in any form or fact passion that is not
32:59the purpose of the parole board we are
33:01here to determine if she is a good
33:03candidate for parole and if so we would
33:06set the parameters of that parole but in
33:09no way can we discuss the trial or retry
33:12her case she was convicted of two counts
33:15of murder if you'd like to speak to
33:17anything outside of that you're welcome
33:21to okay me now I just want to say two
33:25things about the trial I only went to
33:27the Tri uh for one part of one morning
33:31uh to testify in the sentencing pH
33:34against the death penalty and the two
33:36things that I picked up from the trial
33:39itself was one a prison guard who came a
33:43female who said that uh she had not seen
33:48a a
33:49criminal as moreful as Susan was uh and
33:55that she felt her REM voice for what she
33:58had done was genuine and the second
34:01thing was one of the jurors the
34:04prosecuting attorney was pushing hard
34:06for the death penalty and the jury voted
34:09not and they voted life as you all have
34:12already mentioned but one of the jurors
34:15said that she felt
34:17like that it would be harder for Susan
34:21to live with what she had done than to
34:25die and I thought that was was a true
34:28statement and it certainly has been for
34:31Susan during her 30 years in prison and
34:35especially the first part of her time
34:38that she was there it's been mentioned
34:40she attempted suicide several times and
34:43she had a couple of run-ins where guards
34:46were able to use her for their pleasure
34:50uh and uh that's a bad situation and uh
34:55was dealt with and she was not the only
34:58prisoner involved thank you Mr Curry
35:01thank you for your
35:03comments thank you for your comments Mrs
35:05Curry do you wish to say
35:08anything um yes please and thank you for
35:11letting us speak I just want to say that
35:15I really think Susan is ready for parole
35:19now she has surrounded herself with a
35:23caring support Community to that advises
35:27and encourages her and she listens to
35:32them as um Mr Thomas said she has done
35:37everything she can to prepare herself to
35:40live outside of the prison and taking
35:43courses in learning how to teach in
35:46caring about other people in working on
35:49teams and projects together and thirdly
35:55as um both of them have said she is not
35:59the young woman who went into prison 30
36:02years ago she is much stronger she has
36:06grieved is still grieving will always
36:09grieve um but she's learned from it and
36:13she has
36:15experienced paralyzing remorse and
36:19survived today she wants to begin to
36:23rebuild her life and I hope you'll give
36:26her that chance I want to say one more
36:29word for the last two years now remember
36:32I wrote her for 30 years once a week
36:35pretty close to every week and that is
36:39the last two years I've ended my letters
36:42by saying Susan you live in a needy
36:45Place PR share God's love with those
36:49around you and with your other contacts
36:52but always live in Hope for your own
36:55future there is a time when you will
36:58live on your own again past prison and
37:03that's what I hope you all will give her
37:05the chance to do at this time she is a
37:10very different person from what she was
37:1330 years ago and I've probably been in
37:16contact with her talking about spiritual
37:21things but also talk just trying to
37:23enlarge her life by telling her about
37:26what's going on on in the world around
37:28her and in the curry family she's the
37:32same age as one of my children all right
37:34thank you Mr Curry we appreciate all of
37:37your comments sir we appreciate all of
37:40your comments and all of the information
37:42Mr Thomas anything in closing
37:45sir no ma'am um nothing further than um
37:50I really um would ask the board to take
37:53the time to consider um Susan's request
37:56for um parole I do believe that if we
38:00look at uh insight into uh things that
38:04uh we've done and as far as things that
38:06um we need to do to um to get out of um
38:10Department Corrections and to try to
38:12make our life worthwhile or mean
38:14something I think Susan is at that point
38:17and uh I just again want to thank you
38:19for listening today and um and hope you
38:22would um consider our presentation thank
38:25you Mr Thomas thank you Miss Smith and
38:27thank you Mr Mrs Curry we certainly
38:29appreciate all of you joining us today
38:32if you all will please exit the rooms we
38:34will have an answer for you later today
38:36thank you for joining
38:37us thank you one moment as the room
38:49clears and the room is clear and we do
38:52have additional testimony facilitated by
38:53the office of victim services
38:57please wait as all victims join from
38:59central
39:19office good afternoon
39:28you all come on in thank
39:35you can you may just a little further
39:37around so you can get everyone in thank
39:39you so
39:47much thank you good afternoon you all
39:51are here for the parole consideration
39:53case of Susan Smith is that correct yes
39:57we are so very very sorry for the
40:00circumstances that brought you all to be
40:01a part of this hearing today but we
40:04cannot tell you how much we appreciate
40:06you joining us and being here with us
40:08today thank you so much before we begin
40:11I do need each of you to please state
40:13your name for the record and your
40:15interest in this case sir can we begin
40:18with you please stand up you don't have
40:20to stand up here you do whatever is
40:22comfortable for you I'm David Smith I'm
40:25the father of Michael allice thank you
40:27Mr
40:28SMI and um Tiffany Smith I Am David
40:32Smith's wife than
40:34you I'm Rebecca Smith French I'm the
40:37aunt of Michael
40:39nalex I'm Savannah Smith and I am
40:42David's daughter of Michael n's
40:44sister Austin Hughes I'm a friend of the
40:46victim family I'm Tommy Bo I was the
40:50solicitor in the original
40:51Tri I'm Kevin bracket I'm the 16th
40:54circuit solicitor currently and was a
40:56prosecutor on the original
40:58case Laura Hudson with the Crime Victims
41:02Council Mark Reynolds I'm with the
41:05victim's family Bailey Bailey personal
41:09friend KY Bailey personal
41:11friend Jeff Bailey Sheriff Union
41:14County Scott CER Sheriff's Office Union
41:17County Michael cogill
41:20documentary re Swan
41:24aael Doug Smith Dave's uncle
41:28thank you all and again we are so very
41:30very sorry for the circumstances but
41:34thank you for being here with us today
41:36we do have the facts of the events and
41:38we've heard from this mon now we want to
41:41hear from you all whether you were for
41:43or against parole and if anyone would
41:46like to make a statement you are
41:48certainly welcome to do so Mr Smith
41:51would you like to begin or would you
41:53like to conclude at the end it's
41:55completely up to you
41:58conclude at the end please okay who
42:00would like to speak first I'll speak
42:02first please ma'am thank you yes sir so
42:06I'm Tommy Pope I was the 16th circuit
42:08solicitor and um this was a death
42:10penalty case and the reason it was a
42:13death py case you know the solicor has
42:14that discretion but the reason it was a
42:16death peny case uh you know the facts
42:18and circumstances and I I just felt
42:21strongly that had the black man with the
42:23deogan committed the crime people would
42:26expect a death penalty if David Smith
42:28had committed the crime people would
42:31expected the death penalty and I thought
42:33it was very important that the Betrayal
42:35that Susan Smith showed that she be
42:37treated the same we knew it was going to
42:39be difficult we knew there was a
42:40likelihood of of not achieving the death
42:43penalty uh but I think it's important to
42:45note the jury at the time actually asked
42:47would what did life mean and and you may
42:50be aware but in that time life did not
42:52mean life life became life in 96 we
42:55tried the case in '95 um so the jury was
42:58asked and the judge was required to
43:00instruct the jury that you take life and
43:02death in its plain and usual meaning
43:05carrying that forward the jury showed
43:07her mercy the jury gave her the life
43:09sentence but one of the jurors or more
43:11of the jurors after the fact and
43:12speaking to the media said that they
43:16believe the life sentence was the
43:17greater punishment because they believed
43:20that Susan should have to reflect on
43:22what she did to Michael and Alex that
43:25she should have to spend the rest of her
43:27life life uh thinking about what she'd
43:29done the two fallacies in that logic
43:32that the jury could not have known are
43:33number one obviously we're here today so
43:36life did not mean life uh number two and
43:39you have it before you Susan's conduct
43:42from the day she roll the kids in the
43:43lake the defense claimed a a botch
43:46suicide but she was able to save herself
43:49she was able to blame a black guy she
43:51wasn't wet she wasn't injured when she
43:53runs to the house and concocts his story
43:56Susan has always focused on Susan I will
43:59believe to to the end of my time that
44:02Susan made a horrible horrible choice to
44:05choose a man over her family I said the
44:08boys were in the car her wedding gown
44:10was in the car her wedding album was in
44:12the car she thought in a nice package
44:15she could roll that away if she could
44:16have put David in the car he would have
44:18been there too she in a nice packet she
44:20could roll that away and start this new
44:23life with this other man and she led
44:25everyone on including David for nine
44:27horrible days and so as you look at her
44:30conduct in prison whether it was a
44:32relationship with guards um the social
44:35media the attention uh the conduct
44:38recently with the the publisher um Susan
44:41you know she's got people outside I'm
44:43sure you've heard from them that want to
44:44take care of her Susan has always
44:47focused on what's best for Susan and so
44:49the evidence that you have before you I
44:51think tells clearly that she has not
44:54focused on Michael and Alex she only has
44:57and continues to focus on herself and so
45:00on behalf of this family on behalf of
45:03justice and the justice for this case
45:05it's not about her behavior or what she
45:07would do when getting out but I know one
45:09of your criteria is the nature of the
45:11crime and whether the punishment is
45:13there and I would submit for the crime
45:15she committed the actions she committed
45:17that punishment has not been achieved
45:19yet and so I would ask you to deny
45:22parole now I thank you for your time
45:24thank appreciate it
45:27would anyone else like to
45:29speak yes yes sir Madam chairman uh
45:33chair lady and members of the board
45:35thank you so much for giving me the
45:36opportunity to speak here today I was on
45:38the prosecution team that handled the
45:41prosecution along with uh solic Pope and
45:44speaker pope now uh who you just heard
45:47from I wanted to bring to you a a couple
45:50of vetes from the case to help bring
45:53this alive for you um in the course of
45:56preparing for today I've gone back over
45:58the case I've reviewed the file I've
46:00pulled some of the evidence out which is
46:02in a closet just off my office evidence
46:05like the note that was written uh to
46:08Susan Smith by her her boyfriend the man
46:10she was cheating on her husband with who
46:13told her in the note that he could not
46:15be with her anymore because he didn't
46:17want children and that they had no
46:18long-term future because he didn't want
46:20children and then one week later she's
46:23rolling her car down the ramp at John D
46:26long Lake with her two children strapped
46:28into the back she betrayed her husband
46:30when she cheated on him and she betrayed
46:33her
46:35children against the laws of
46:38nature when she should have been sworn
46:40to protect those children she betrayed
46:44them when she left them in the seat and
46:46rolled that car down and she was not
46:48trying to commit suicide she was trying
46:50to change her life she wanted to kill
46:51her old life and start a new she was
46:54wearing a sweatshirt that the man who
46:57she was cheating with had given to her
46:59when she was on TV two hours later after
47:03claiming that a black man in a tagen had
47:05carjacked her and spirited her two
47:08children away how many black men in red
47:11mazas got pulled over across the country
47:15because they were looking for those two
47:16kids and they were looking for this
47:17fictitious man that didn't exist purely
47:20a figment of her imagination I was on
47:23the banks of John D long lake standing
47:25there with about 40 or 45 people 50
47:28people as the tow truck from Greer's
47:31wrecker launched its line into the water
47:34where divers hooked it up to the car and
47:36pulled it
47:38out total silence as that car emerged
47:41from the Dark Water everybody sitting
47:43there hoping and praying that maybe it
47:46was a different car maybe it was a wrong
47:48car maybe the kids weren't in there not
47:51a word was said it was one of the most
47:53haunting memories of my life and it will
47:55live with me forever and that's the last
47:57point I want to
47:59make you're going to hear from this man
48:03and he's going to tell you what this did
48:04to
48:06him I can't begin to describe it I sat
48:09in court and listened to him testify and
48:12it was heartwrenching as he described
48:14that his hopes and dreams for the future
48:17were destroyed that night when she
48:19killed their two
48:21children this didn't just traumatize him
48:24it traumatized
48:27Union it traumatized South Carolina the
48:30entire country was in the grips of her
48:34lie and her
48:36treachery the entire country this was a
48:40global sensation people were fixated on
48:47this they're not the only victims and on
48:51behalf of the community that I represent
48:54now I don't believe she should ever be
48:56released from jail until the last person
49:00alive who remembers Michael and Alex is
49:04dead and that will not be in her
49:06lifetime she should never be released
49:09and she should not be released now his
49:11hopes and dreams were dashed I hope you
49:13dash hers today and every two years here
49:17after thank you
49:20s does anyone else wish to speak
49:30okay you're welcome to stay seated if
49:33you're more comfortable whatever's best
49:34for okay thank
49:39you I'm going to read what I wrote okay
49:42it's easier you don't mind when Susan
49:45murdered Michael Alex she altered the
49:47course of my life and my family's life
49:49forever having grown up with three older
49:52brothers Susan was like the sister I
49:54never had I was a teenag mom of just 16
49:58so I looked up to her and even admired
50:00her I thought she was the best mother to
50:03the boys and I stried to be just like
50:05her I would even leave my own daughter
50:07with her while attended night school
50:09Susan betrayed us and took the lives of
50:11those boys and then lied about it for
50:14days when she did this she destroyed a
50:17trust in me that I've never regained and
50:19as a result I do not develop close
50:21relationships with others easily in
50:23particular
50:24females anxiety and depression have
50:27plagued my life for years I push it away
50:29during spring and summer as best
50:31possible but it always creeps back
50:33during back up around Alex's birthday
50:36when it rolls around in August because I
50:38know Michaels won't be far behind in
50:40October and then the anniversary of
50:43their death on the 25th CU in my mind it
50:46always refer to this period of time as a
50:48sad
50:49months throughout my career the majority
50:52of any time Miss at work is around
50:55Michael and Alex's birthday days in the
50:57anniversary of their
50:59death I stay in bed and sleep to deal
51:02with the depression it's just easier
51:05this way or at least it seems to
51:09be something as simple as taking up a
51:11new hobby turned into a nightmare for me
51:13last year my boyfriend and I decided to
51:16take scuba diving lessons I geared up
51:18with all the equipment face mask on
51:21oxygen tank on my back stepped off the
51:23side of the pool into 15 ft of water and
51:25immediately same to the bottom from all
51:28the weight I was carrying normally you'd
51:31remember to breathe and begin to ascend
51:34as I had studied for all the weeks
51:35leading up to that point but nothing
51:37prepared me for dropping into a body of
51:39water and the feeling of being weighted
51:42down unable to breathe and seeing
51:44Michael and Alex's
51:47face I immediately Panic ripping off my
51:50face mask sucking in water and not being
51:52able to come to the surface from all the
51:53weight I was carrying I was drowning
51:57and I knew in that moment that was the
51:58closest I'd ever come to KN what my
52:02nephews had endured and how horrific and
52:06scared their last moments had to band
52:10something as simple as taking up a new
52:12hobby was yet one more thing Susan was
52:14taken from
52:16me in over 25 years I have found myself
52:20finding Comfort going to the cemetery
52:21where the boys are buried beside our
52:24older brother I go there often and I
52:26will tidy up their graves where people
52:29have left trinkets or gifts and I talk
52:31to them I go there when I'm happy I go
52:34there when I'm upset rainy days sunny
52:38days cold days and hot days it doesn't
52:41matter it brings me peace just being
52:44there but as a result I'm I'm not able
52:47to bring myself to move away from Union
52:50County because now I don't want to leave
52:54them we have missed Michael out his
52:57kindergarten graduations numerous
52:59birthdays birthday parties summer
53:02vacations
53:03easers along with annual Easter hunt egg
53:06hunts at M malls thanksgivings
53:09Christmases football soccer baseball
53:12games
53:13proms High School graduations possible
53:18marriages and births of their own
53:20children we don't
53:22know because they never had a chance
53:26they never had a chance to live a life
53:28of their own Susan took that from
53:32them she took that from us
53:35all I know she wants a chance to be free
53:38after only serving 30
53:41years
53:43no life should mean
53:46life I'm respectfully asking you to
53:50please Den my her request for
53:52Paro thank you thank you man
54:01I apologize if I get a little bit
54:04emotional uh I drove down from
54:08Detroit on Monday night which was
54:11Halloween before of that week and um
54:15young man middle-aged man then I'm an
54:18old man now but the boy never got
54:24to as Vicky said they missed they missed
54:27a lot they missed their
54:28life today they would be in their 30s
54:32David would probably be a
54:34grandad boys were still
54:37here I took my sister out to the lake
54:41yesterday and it's a beautiful drive out
54:43there I just
54:45thinking all the all that time she had
54:48time to change her mind to stop and turn
54:52around and not go through with it but
54:53she
54:54did and then the the boys were going a
54:58year later I came back down for the
55:01trial Tommy pope did a good job they
55:04proved that she was
55:07guilty during the sentence and trial
55:11they came back and
55:13recommended life Tommy had argued for
55:17for death penalty the family was for
55:19death penalty they come back and
55:21recommend a life but we we said well
55:25we'll live with
55:27it you know she'll have to live with it
55:29for the every day for the rest of her
55:31life so we were we were satisfied with
55:34life but we do not want a parole against
55:38any parole for her and then two other
55:41items going back 30 years the the Friday
55:45morning after
56:03apologize but the Friday morning after
56:06uh David his dad my brother's wife and
56:10and I the four us were sitting at hulum
56:12funeral home and
56:14Union and uh discussing the funeral
56:18arrangements David asked to see the
56:20boys and Mr hulkin had a funny look on
56:23his face and he he said Mr Smith got I
56:26see
56:35you so we we went out and he said you
56:39know your nephew can't see the voice and
56:42he told me why he said you know the boys
56:45were in the water for nine
56:52days so I went back and told David I
56:56said you
56:57know it's better that you don't see the
57:00boys and I think deep down he understood
57:11why the next day Saturday three of us
57:15David his dad and I went out to the uh
57:18banville United Methodist Church
57:21Cemetery and to look where the boys are
57:24going to be buried and David's brother
57:27Danny who had died three years earlier
57:30was buried there David one of his boys
57:33buried next to his his uh brother their
57:36uncle but the way the cemetery is laid
57:38out there was no room for for the boys
57:41to be put next to
57:52dny so I found the uh the uh Cemetery
57:58custodian and asked him it were possible
58:02to move
58:03Danny and he said well yes if that's
58:06what the family wants we can move
58:08Danny so I went back and toldo my
58:12brother said you know David wants the
58:15boys to be next to their Uncle would you
58:17have a problem if we mve Danny
58:29and he said
58:31no so if you go out to the cemetery
58:36you'll find that Danny and the boys are
58:39side by
58:47side does anyone else wish to yes
58:56so as as David's
58:59wife I have stood by him for the last 30
59:02years and watched his pain his
59:05suffering his dark days that you cannot
59:13imagine it's been hard as a loving wife
59:17to stand back and watch him suffer the
59:19pain that he has gone
59:22through to not want to get out of bed
59:24some days
59:28to not be able to get out of
59:35bed because the pain was so much for
59:43him and for 30 years we had thought this
59:46day would never come but yet here we
59:52are I don't feel that that it's time for
59:56her to be let out because she took two
59:58lives she didn't just take one she took
1:00:01two precious little
1:00:04boys that we haven't been able to watch
1:00:06grow
1:00:09up and it's Becky stated earlier all the
1:00:13things that we've missed out on because
1:00:14of them not being here all the things
1:00:17they missed out on growing up in and
1:00:21doing
1:00:29and for her to be in prison for the last
1:00:3230 years you would think that she would
1:00:34have thought about what she's done she
1:00:36would have said I'm sorry but she hasn't
1:00:39said I'm sorry she hasn't even called
1:00:41him hasn't even told him she was
1:00:45sorry much less the
1:00:48world for nine days all I can think
1:00:50about is how much she
1:00:52lied and manipulated everybody
1:00:56the whole
1:00:57world I watched it and believed her
1:01:03myself I wanted her to be telling the
1:01:08truth but to be betrayed by her
1:01:12lies and that just makes me feel like if
1:01:14she could do that then whatever she's
1:01:17told you today I'm sure were probably
1:01:19lies as
1:01:20well because she has shown in her last
1:01:2330 years what she doesn't prison she's
1:01:27all about herself it's all about what
1:01:30she can do to to make her life
1:01:38better Michael and Alex didn't get a
1:01:40chance at life they were forced the
1:01:43death
1:01:46penalty she took that from them
1:01:57the lives of this family has been
1:01:59forever
1:02:03changed it caused us to be a little
1:02:05overprotective of our now
1:02:07doctor little bit more than we probably
1:02:09should have
1:02:11been because we were afraid something
1:02:14might happen to
1:02:19her it's changed the way we look at life
1:02:22it's changed the way that we look at
1:02:26everybody who can I
1:02:28trust for a long time I didn't trust a
1:02:30lot of people I had to be careful you
1:02:33know around certain people I didn't know
1:02:35if I could trust them or not all because
1:02:38of her
1:02:47lies so to help give us to give this
1:02:50family some
1:02:51peace it would be best if Susan stayed
1:02:54behind fars
1:02:57and stay in prison for the rest of her
1:03:00life I respectfully ask you to keep her
1:03:04and thank you
1:03:11than does anyone else wish to speak for
1:03:14Mr SMI she
1:03:21anyone forgive me
1:03:28most of what I have to say is going to
1:03:30be pretty
1:03:34redundant but
1:03:37um primarily I would just like to focus
1:03:43on since I came after the
1:03:47fact what I had stolen from
1:03:49me was two older
1:03:52brothers the good and the bad of having
1:03:55older siblings
1:04:00and I now try to use my
1:04:04life as a way to live for
1:04:08them and growing
1:04:11up I didn't quite understand it my whole
1:04:14life but when I finally
1:04:16did I felt like I had witnessed it like
1:04:18I was
1:04:20there the pain that Not only was caused
1:04:23to
1:04:24me and
1:04:28like a domino effect but what I have
1:04:31seen
1:04:32firsthand with my father my
1:04:37aunt and our whole
1:04:42Hometown we can no longer say that we're
1:04:44from Union County without Susan's
1:04:47actions being brought
1:04:53up and just for the sake of all of us
1:04:57and our whole Community I ask that you
1:05:00deny her
1:05:07request Mr Smith you're welcome to stay
1:05:11seated if you
1:05:18are Madam chairman members of the
1:05:21committee
1:05:29it's been a tough 30
1:05:32years
1:05:34um I'm not here to speak about what
1:05:38she's done in prison you all have the
1:05:41records accounts of all
1:05:43that just here to
1:05:46Advocate on Micha own Alex's
1:05:49behalf and as their father
1:05:56you
1:05:58know God gives us free
1:06:01choice and she made free choice at night
1:06:04to end their life this wasn't a tragic
1:06:08mistake wasn't something that she didn't
1:06:12mean to do she
1:06:16purposely meant to end their
1:06:21life I
1:06:23never have felt any div from her for it
1:06:27she never expressed any to me I've never
1:06:30seen it on
1:06:33paper
1:06:39um now she you've heard she changed my
1:06:44life for the rest of my life that night
1:06:59some for the better some for the worse
1:07:06but but what she did not only to Michael
1:07:10and
1:07:13Alex she came pretty
1:07:16close to causing me to end my
1:07:20life because of the grief that she
1:07:22brought upon me
1:07:27but thankfully she
1:07:32didn't I understand back
1:07:36in
1:07:3895 that through the state's
1:07:41law life imprison meant 30 years to
1:07:45life and now that's different but at
1:07:48that time that's what counts I
1:07:50understand that
1:07:56But ultimately to me that's only 15
1:08:00years per
1:08:03child her own
1:08:07children it's just not
1:08:13enough so I'm asking that you
1:08:16please do not hurt PE
1:08:21today and hopefully in the future but
1:08:24specifically to
1:08:27day not let her
1:08:32out I miss them very
1:08:35much and I love them very
1:08:38much and I will be here every two years
1:08:41going
1:08:44forward to ensure
1:08:46that your death doesn't go in
1:08:50vain thank
1:08:52you thank you so much Mr SM
1:08:59again please know how very very sorry
1:09:02this board is to all of you for all the
1:09:06pain that this harm caused you but we
1:09:09sincerely appreciate you all being here
1:09:11with us today thank you very much and
1:09:14thank you for the reminder with the
1:09:17picture of Alex and Michael they were
1:09:20beautiful
1:09:22children say thank you for reminding us
1:09:25of that
1:09:26today we wish you the very best and if
1:09:30no one else has anything else that they
1:09:32would like to say if you all will exit
1:09:34with these ladies over here we'll have
1:09:36an answer for you
1:09:37shortly thank you so much for being here
1:10:17the room is clear
1:10:28as a reminder Mrs miror did recuse
1:10:33herself Miss Susan Smith is denied
1:10:35parole the vote is unanimous numbers one
1:10:39and six thank
1:10:44you thank you the time now is 12:51 p.m.
1:10:48we will pause our recording Miss Hunter
1:10:52if you can advise when the recording has
1:10:53been paused
1:10:56the recorder has been paused thank you
1:10:59so much thank you so much this is
1:11:00Valerie sub associate deputy director
1:11:02for pearls Parts and relas Services if
1:11:05everyone would just give me a moment to
1:11:06give some instructions as the room
1:11:08clears from the board I would like for
1:11:11media to pay attention you are given the
1:11:15next 15 minutes for bathroom break
1:11:17please use the restroom prepare
1:11:19yourselves for press conference we will
1:11:21allow you into the building beginning 15
1:11:22minutes from now once we check you in
1:11:24we'll start the press conference once
1:11:26everybody is inside if there are any
1:11:28questions please address it to the staff
1:11:30and we'll get you an answer as quickly
1:11:31as possible again there is 15 minutes
1:11:34between the time we're ending this and
1:11:38beginning entrance back into the
1:11:39building anybody who is in the building
1:11:41who needs to leave and get their cameras
1:11:43or phones are allowed to do so during
1:11:45that 15minute period and then check back
1:11:47in at the front door thank you all so
1:11:49much and the board will be at recess for
1:11:51lunch thank
1:11:54you
1:12:24for
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1:18:53e
1:19:23e e
1:20:23do
1:20:29what you
1:20:53do
1:21:23e
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1:38:22e
1:38:52e e
1:39:31for
1:42:01that
1:42:39[Music]
1:42:53e
1:43:43[Music]
1:43:53e
1:45:13did everybody get a mic
1:45:19check I'm all good for something
1:45:21everybody got a everybody's good m
1:45:23Che might check one two one
1:45:27two all right was good thank you all
1:45:39right does it
1:46:02okay okay let's see here I want to show
1:46:05you some names of folks who will be
1:46:08speaking today so you can go ahead and
1:46:11just get that
1:46:33now come
1:46:38back got
1:46:51it okay is there anybody need white
1:46:54balance or you
1:46:55good no one more time you good all right
1:46:59here we
1:47:07go thank you all right anybody else need
1:47:10white
1:47:11balance you
1:47:13good all
1:47:15[Music]
1:47:17right yes they're going to talk about
1:47:20against the process
1:47:31all right no problem okay so I am not
1:47:34going to have everyone come up here and
1:47:35spell out their name okay that's why I
1:47:36did that I thought that would help you
1:47:38out
1:47:40okay no problem um once I ask uh for
1:47:45questions yeah just you know raise your
1:47:48hand just you know and then I'm gonna go
1:47:50okay okay okay so not throw all the
1:47:53questions right out like that okay all
1:47:55right um let's see let see if
1:47:57everybody's ready and then we'll get
1:47:59them throwing
1:48:24one more
1:48:29time one more time
1:49:13got will ask question
1:49:51that's okay
1:50:02silence
1:50:03your silence
1:50:26we
1:50:31are
1:50:51around for
1:51:48pleas
1:52:06okay all
1:52:08right I believe we're ready to start
1:52:10okay director you're going to be right
1:52:14here
1:52:16okay going to be on this
1:52:20side okay
1:52:31and who
1:52:33else I can fit two
1:52:46more yep right
1:52:48here m
1:52:52tou
1:52:56down excellent excellent thank you so
1:52:59much
1:53:01okay so we're all
1:53:03set yes thank you um let's get started
1:53:07my name is Anita danler I'm the public
1:53:10information director with the South
1:53:11Carolina Department of Probation Parole
1:53:14and pardon Services we are holding this
1:53:17press conference to provide further
1:53:20explanation of the parole hearing in
1:53:24process first I'd like to introduce my
1:53:29acting director for the agency jod Gman
1:53:33who will speak today and then I'd like
1:53:36to also introduce associate deputy
1:53:38director for paroles Pardons and release
1:53:41services Valerie subber who will also be
1:53:44speaking with you today okay so first
1:53:49acting director Gman
1:53:53good
1:53:54afternoon thank you for being here first
1:53:57I want to thank the entire executive
1:54:00management team but behind me you have
1:54:04some of the executive management team
1:54:06and some of the senior managers in the
1:54:09department secondly I want to thank the
1:54:12department staff for everything that
1:54:15they do doing the course of the year and
1:54:17especially for the parole hearings and
1:54:20the pardon processes that we have in
1:54:22place I want to give a special thanks to
1:54:26the pros pardon and release service
1:54:30services division without that staff the
1:54:33hearings could not take place and next
1:54:36for today I want to especially think
1:54:39what we are calling the Special
1:54:40Operations team those were the different
1:54:42folks that you saw today in the uniform
1:54:45some just had their little badges on
1:54:46them but that entire team will putting
1:54:49the work together for today and lastly I
1:54:52just want to thank the parole board the
1:54:55parole board has difficult decisions
1:54:58that they have to make as you witness
1:55:00some of the decisions that were made
1:55:02today so we want to thank them for their
1:55:04services and now we're here from deputy
1:55:06director
1:55:08subber thank
1:55:10you good afternoon everyone as stated my
1:55:14name is Valerie subber I am the
1:55:15associate deputy director for parols
1:55:17pardons and release services I'd like to
1:55:19First say thank you to court television
1:55:21for providing live streaming services
1:55:23today and for highlighting the parole
1:55:25process in the state of South Carolina
1:55:28in South Carolina we scheduled roughly
1:55:293,000 inmates every year for parole
1:55:33consideration today inmate Susan smithc
1:55:36number
1:55:3722487 was denied parole this was by a
1:55:41unanimous decision of the board one
1:55:44board member did recuse herself from
1:55:46this vote the reasons for denial were
1:55:49identified as follows and if we could
1:55:51get this this on the screen behind you
1:55:53is a
1:55:55graphic the nature and seriousness of
1:55:57the current crime her institutional
1:56:00record is
1:56:01unfavorable the inmate will be notified
1:56:04of the disposition of this hearing as
1:56:07well as the reasons for rejection and
1:56:09mate Smith will be eligible again for
1:56:11parole consideration in two
1:56:16years thank
1:56:19you okay do you have any question
1:56:23questions yes that um the reasons for
1:56:27her parole being denied were nature and
1:56:29seriousness of current offense and
1:56:31institutional record does that mean when
1:56:33she comes back in two more years uh the
1:56:35nature and seriousness of the current
1:56:37offense will be the reason that she's
1:56:39denied again like will she just get
1:56:41denied for
1:56:42this next times that she comes I can't
1:56:45speak as to what will happen it is a
1:56:49reason for denial and the board may use
1:56:51that reason again in two years yes and
1:56:53could they not use it like could they
1:56:56decide to not look at the nature and
1:56:57seriousness of the current effect the
1:56:59board is an autonomous decision-making
1:57:01body they make their decisions
1:57:03independent of this agency they do have
1:57:04the discretion to Grant parole as they
1:57:06see fit so it is at their discretion
1:57:09that they Grant or deny and the reasons
1:57:11that they Grant or deny are at their
1:57:12discretion as well Al what was the
1:57:15nature of the conflict uh of the board
1:57:17member that excused herself or
1:57:20himself I have that statement here for
1:57:22you and I will read it for you again as
1:57:24it was read onto the record be advised
1:57:26that I will recuse myself in the parole
1:57:28hearing of Susan Smith number
1:57:3222487 I was acting Warden at Camille
1:57:35Graham Correctional Center in 1999 where
1:57:38inmate Smith was housed and subsequently
1:57:40transferred to leth Correctional
1:57:42Institution I have determined that it is
1:57:44appropriate to recuse to eliminate any
1:57:47appearance or affecting her opportunity
1:57:50for parole and it is respectfully
1:57:53Geraldine P Miro board
1:57:55member and we have a question here uh
1:57:57she actually just asked it she asked it
1:57:59okay anyone else have a question notic
1:58:02uh thank you I noticed that um all of
1:58:04the PO uh hearings all of the decisions
1:58:07were actually rejected is that normal uh
1:58:11our parole rate uh for violent crimes is
1:58:13currently 8% uh so there is not a high
1:58:16parole rate in South Carolina currently
1:58:19um so I guess in in essence that that is
1:58:22pretty
1:58:24typical another question yes um are
1:58:27there supposed to be seven Pro board
1:58:29members yes the board consists of seven
1:58:32members appointed by the governor and
1:58:33confirmed by the Senate we do have one
1:58:35vacant seat that has been vacant since
1:58:382022 so that vacancy is not considered
1:58:40in the Quorum and then miss Meo recused
1:58:43herself so there were five voting
1:58:44members in this hearing why is that toac
1:58:47because the governor appoints the and
1:58:49the Senate confirms and that hasn't
1:58:50happened in our recent years in the
1:58:53state of South Carolina has there been
1:58:55an inmate who's granted parole with the
1:58:57seriousness of this nature of inmates
1:59:00have been granted parole who committed
1:59:02murders and there are inmates currently
1:59:04on parole for life sentences
1:59:07yes any other
1:59:10questions yes what makes a difference to
1:59:13the inmates uh who had committed murders
1:59:16or like sentences for granted parols
1:59:17versus stent Smith's case again the
1:59:20board grants parole at their disc
1:59:23and I will quote a statute for you
1:59:24because it is probably the most potent
1:59:26statute that
1:59:28I I can reference that is 2421 640 the
1:59:32board must carefully consider the record
1:59:34of prisoner before during and after
1:59:36imprisonment and no such prisoner may be
1:59:39paroled until it appears to the
1:59:41satisfaction of the board that the
1:59:43prisoner has shown a disposition to
1:59:45[Music]
1:59:48reform that in the future he will
1:59:50probably obey the law and lead a correct
1:59:52life that by his conduct he has merited
1:59:55a lessening of the rigors of his
1:59:57imprisonment that the interest of
2:00:00society will not be impaired thereby and
2:00:03that suitable employment has been
2:00:04secured for him that is 2421 640 which
2:00:09gives the board complete discretion to
2:00:10Grant or deny parole and it is not until
2:00:13they are satisfied that these conditions
2:00:15are present that an inmate may be
2:00:19parole yes so I didn't hear this
2:00:22discussed but did C Smith have any um
2:00:25like hard offers of employment if she
2:00:27would have been released or had she
2:00:28satisfied
2:00:30that the the employment offers are not
2:00:33verified until the person actually makes
2:00:40Pearl was there anybody else besides the
2:00:43CES that were in favor of her
2:00:45release like correspondence or anything
2:00:49like that I don't know who was in favor
2:00:51of parl I think we've already reported
2:00:53out on the number of letters received
2:00:55and I don't have any other information
2:00:57outside of that so just for I'm sorry to
2:01:01make you repeat this how many letters
2:01:03were received there were six I believe
2:01:06uh six that were for parole and uh as
2:01:13of November 17th or 18th it was
2:01:18471 letters or correspondences receed
2:01:22because some were
2:01:24emails
2:01:26okay and how is the inmate informed that
2:01:30whether or not they're appr our agency
2:01:33employees staff release examiners who
2:01:35are present at each institution and they
2:01:38are advised of the outcome of the
2:01:39hearing at the time the decision is made
2:01:42at the
2:01:44prison I think I have War uh so why is
2:01:46it like every two years to have a parole
2:01:48here and how does that work okay by
2:01:50Statute because of the time her crime
2:01:52was committed she is eligible for parole
2:01:55every two years there is a window where
2:01:58certain individuals are eligible every
2:02:00year but because she is serving for a
2:02:02violent crime and the time she was
2:02:04convicted and her crime was committed
2:02:06the law requires that she wait two years
2:02:08before she's considered
2:02:14again okay um just one more thing folks
2:02:18uh several of you have asked me about
2:02:20the names of the person persons that
2:02:22spoke during the Susan Smith
2:02:26hearing so I'm going to give it to you
2:02:28right
2:02:29now David
2:02:33Smith Tiffany
2:02:36Smith Savannah
2:02:40Smith Douglas
2:02:44Smith Rebecca Smith French Rebecca is
2:02:49spelled re e b b e c k
2:02:56a and is that
2:03:01for and I believe it's former
2:03:04representative Tommy
2:03:06Pope and solicitor Kevin
2:03:11bracket bracket b r a c k e
2:03:16TT so those are pretty easy names I
2:03:19think you got it I know you got it he
2:03:22won't be calling me tonight one question
2:03:24Savannah is it with an H or without H
2:03:26Savannah with an H thank you all right
2:03:29the uh the folks who spoke in favor of
2:03:32Smith the curries is that c r r y or IE
2:03:36H now I do not have that who spoke in
2:03:40favor they registerd don't right so they
2:03:44are registered with the South Carolina
2:03:46Department of
2:03:48Corrections um so yes they would have
2:03:51that information for
2:03:54you I want to thank you all for staying
2:03:56with us and coming here to this press
2:03:58conference today we're going to also
2:04:00take you down the stairs uh down the
2:04:02elevators in a very orderly fashion just
2:04:04as you got up here okay thank you
2:04:29oh my God

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