William Flynn, who was jailed as a teenager for the 1990 murder of Gregory Smart, was paroled after 25 years. He was informed of the approval of his parole application on first attempt on Thursday when he turned 41.

"It's your birthday. We're granting you the privilege of parole," SFGate quotes Donna Sytek, the chairwoman of the state board. Flynn is in a Maine prison.

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The case was sensational because of the elements of adultery, betrayal and murder, which even resulted in the production of the film "To Die For." The movie, starring Nicole Kidman, was based on the novel by Joyce Maynard, which was inspired by Flynn's love affair with his high school instructor Pamela Smart.

Smart, who was one of the self-awareness program instructors at Winnacunnet High School in Hampton, was 22 at that time. She seduced Flynn, then 15, and then conspired with him to kill her husband.

She told Flynn that she feared she would lose everything if Gregory divorced her, that's why she wanted him dead. On May 1, 1990, Flynn and a friend, 17-year-old Patrick Randall entered the couple's unit in Derry where they made Gregory kneel while Randall held a knife at his throat. Flynn then shot the husband of Pamela in the head.

He was initially sentenced to 28 years, less the time he served before the trial. But because of his good behavior, a judge cut his sentence by three years. Randall was sentenced 28 years to life, while Pamela - who initially denied knowledge of the plan, but a teenage intern had a recording that incriminated the teacher - got a life term with no chance of parole.

Despite liberty at his hands, Flynn said what happened in 1990 would always hound him for life, including chances of employment. "Parole will not change that," he said.

TagsMurder