Smart?

While waiting for The Amazing Bob to finish his cardiac rehab session, I often pick through the pile of waiting room mags. Mostly they've got Sports Illustrated (zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz) but occasionally there's a People Mag with pics of beautiful people in beautiful clothing, doing beautiful things.

Yesterday's pile 'o' periodicals contained an actual current People (versus the usual two years past copies)! Emblazoned on the cover was Pamela Smart — the supposed sinister mastermind behind the 1990 murder of her husband, Gregg.

She’s accused of seducing William Flynn, when he was 15 and she was 22, and threatening to stop having sex with him unless he killed her husband. Her story is that, when she ended the unfortunate affair — telling Flynn that she wanted to repair the rift in her marriage, he killed her husband in retaliation. 

Turns out, the boys, now men, who did the deed — held knife to Gregg's throat, shot the killing bullet — are up for parole.

I only mention it but it seems funny (and not in an amusing way) that Flynn, the gunman, the person who pulled the trigger, is up for parole but Pam Smart, who wasn’t even on the scene, will never, ever have the chance of freedom.

Most of the press have depicted Pam Smart as a Machiavellian mastermind, yanking poor little “Billy” Flynn’s delicate strings, manipulating him an and his murderous crew to do her bidding.

Pamela Smart’s diabolical plan to have her 16-year-old lover, William “Billy” Flynn, kill her husband was immortalized in the 1995 Nicole Kidman movie To Die For

She’s Becky Sharp on meth and steroids, an Elena Ceausescu in training, Marquise Isabelle de Merteuil without the dough or title. She’s Svengali in pumps and Maybelline.

Huh. I wonder where reality is in this mess.

I only mention it but:

Pamela Smart has consistently denied any role in her husband’s murder and, unlike the admitted killers, refused to plea bargain in exchange for her freedom. She would not, will not, and cannot admit to acts she did not commit, the dilemma of all innocent people. Guilty people usually try to make the best deal for themselves, as happened in this case. Two are already free and the other two–the boys who did the actual killing and confessed to it–will be out in a few years. All will be able to reclaim their lives. But Pam, who was not even there and denies all involvement, is sentenced to spend the rest of her natural life in prison. What’s wrong with this picture?

Whatever the case — THEY did the deed but will be free one day — possibly quite soon.

Pam? Not so much.

Gregg Smart was shot to death at the couple’s Derry condo. According to testimony, a friend of Flynn’s held a knife to Smart’s throat, and Flynn – after asking God for forgiveness – fired a .38-caliber revolver. Two other friends were in a getaway car.

After asking God for forgiveness he pulls the trigger? What amazingly warped bullshit! Did the kid's lawyer suggest he say this to make him look like a poor, god fearing, victim of an horrific temptress? Did bringing god into the equation make Flynn's crime more palatable to the jury?

I guess so. In response to being asked how they felt about Flynn being transferred into a work release program:

Gregg Smart's family approved of the move for Flynn. "If they're going to be out next year, they need to get acclimated back into society," Gregg's brother, Dean J. Smart, tells PEOPLE.

and

"I do not think she deserves to be set free," Dean Smart tells PEOPLE. "I do believe that she's guilty, and I do believe that it's completely fair."

I'm curious, is your belief supported by reality or just the need to exact permanent punishment and revenge? And what of the actual killers? You’re fine with them walking free?

At worst, the saddest take, is that Smart’s serving a life sentence for making a profoundly stupid choice of bed partner. Wow.