A. South Carolina mother who is He was found guilty of killing his two children by rolling his car into a lake with kids strapped into car seats parole 30 years later.

Susan Smith, 53, was convicted of murder in 1995, but jury decided not to sentence him to death. Under State Law at that time eligible to attend a parole hearing every two years He has now spent 30 years behind bars.

He will appear before a committee of 7 people parole board He pleaded for his freedom via video stream from prison on Wednesday.

Smith made international headlines in October 1994 when she claimed she was carjacked by a black man who she claimed drove away with her sons Michael, 3, and 14-month-old Alex.

But investigators say the story is inconsistent, and after nine days of Smith and her husband, David, pleading for the safe return of their children, Smith confessed to the murders.

A decision on parole requires a two-thirds vote of the board members present at the hearing, according to the state Department of Parole, Parole and Pardon Services.

In South Carolina, parole is granted in only eight percent of cases, and less often in a prisoner’s first appearance before the board, in notorious cases or in cases opposed by prosecutors and victims’ families.

IMPORTANT POINTS

• What we know about the ‘killer mother’ case

• Susan Smith’s parole hearing will begin soon

• What to expect at Susan Smith’s parole hearing?

• Susan Smith’s ex-husband describes fears ahead of killer’s parole hearing

Murdered boys’ aunt cries as she calls for Susan Smith to be kept in jail

17:40 , Andrea Cavalier

David Smith’s sister explains how much the boys’ murders affected their lives.

He reads a letter to the parole board, talking about how much he loves and trusts Susan.

She said she has since experienced trust issues, depression and trauma.

While taking scuba diving lessons as a way to continue moving forward in life, she had a moment when she realized what her nephews were going through and the horrific conditions.

As she burst into tears, she said the moment of entering the water triggered a flashback to how scared children were when they drowned.

Prosecutor says Susan always focused only on Susan

17:31 , Andrea Cavalier

Tommy Pope, the prosecutor in the Smith case, told the parole board that “Susan was always focused solely on Susan.”

He said that when jurors rejected the death penalty, they thought a life sentence meant the rest of his life and did not think he could be released after 30 years.

“They believed life was a greater punishment because he had to reflect on his actions,” he said.

He is joined by about a dozen people, including daily members who oppose granting parole to Smith.

Another lawyer said he was not trying to commit suicide but was trying to start a new life.

Susan Smith says she’s learned from her mistakes

17:18 , Andrea Cavalier

Smith, who was subject to several violations while in prison, told the parole board that he had learned from his mistakes.

The board asked: “If you don’t follow the rules of the institution, why should this board think it will follow the rules of society?”

“I made a lot of stupid choices. I learned from my mistakes,” he said.

“I’m a Christian and God is a big part of my life and I know he forgives me,” he said.

“I just ask that you show the same compassion and yes, I think that’s it.”

Susan Smith cried as she asked to be released

17:07 , Andrea Cavalier

“First of all, I want to say how sorry I am,” he said and sobbed.

“I wish I could go back and change it,” he continued.

“I love Michael and Alex with all my heart.”

‘His wish is to make his life have meaning’

17:05 , Andrea Cavalier

Smith’s lawyer says he did arts and crafts in prison as well as math classes.

She talked about her love for animals and how she wanted to do something with her life.

“His desire is to make his life have meaning. It’s something other than what he does. To make a positive impact in your life.”

Smith’s lawyer denied the claim that the reason for the murders was a relationship

16:59 , Andrea Cavalier

Smith’s attorney told the parole board that this case was “not about love for a local man”; This allegation has been revealed by local media in recent months, leading up to the hearing.

“What I can determine is not true. It was never proven at trial and was abandoned by the state.”

He said there were “multiple stress points converging simultaneously” that led to the murders.

Thomas acknowledges the enormity of the crime.

She said her mental health problems began with her father’s suicide, and she never got help for her depression due to the stigma at the time.

After the birth of her children, she suffered from severe depression, including postpartum depression.

‘This is a mental health hearing,’ says Smith’s lawyer

16:49 , Andrea Cavalier

This is a mental health hearing,” Smith’s attorney, Tommy Thomas, said during the parole hearing.

“It’s about the dangers of untreated mental health. “It’s about stigmas.”

She said it’s important to Susan that people understand there’s no shame in asking for help.

Thomas lists his accomplishments while in prison.

Susan Smith’s lawyer requests her release

16:45 , Andrea Cavalier

Susan Smith appears on stage with her attorney, Tommy Thomas.

Thomas is suing for his release.

Two supporters are on another broadcast.

Susan Smith’s case is being heard by the parole board

16:43 , Andrea Cavalier

Smith will appear on the video feed shortly.

Susan Smith’s ex-husband appeared in court

16:06 , Andrea Cavalier

Susan Smith’s ex-husband and father of her children, David Smith, showed up for her parole hearing, according to NewsNation’s Brian Entin, who was at the courthouse in Georgia.

David said he did not believe 30 years was enough time and he should not be released.

Could Susan Smith be released?

15:56 , Andrea Cavalier

Susan Smith’s parole hearing will be held virtually, according to the state’s Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services.

Parole is granted only 8 percent of the time in South Carolina, and is less likely to happen the first time a prisoner appears before the board in notorious cases or in cases opposed by prosecutors and victims’ families, the Associated Press reported.

Smith falls into all of these categories.

Tommy Pope, the lead prosecutor in Smith’s case and now the Republican Speaker Pro Tem of the South Carolina House, said he plans to tell the parole board that if jurors reject the death penalty, they think a life sentence means the rest of his life. He said they did not think he could be released after 30 years.

Earlier this month, the South Carolina Department of Parole, Parole and Pardon Services confirmed to various news organizations that more than 127 letters had been sent to their agency regarding Smith’s parole request.

The letters are not public, but a Smith family source said: New York Post He said many were against Smith’s possible release and were full of negative comments, including the statement that Smith “belongs in that lake with her boys.”

’30 years is not enough’

15:22 , Andrea Cavalier

Susan Smith had been serving a life sentence for the past 30 years after a jury found her guilty of murder for tying her two young sons to the back seat of the car before putting it in the lake.

But her ex-husband David Smith says that’s not enough.

“30 years is not enough,” David said on the TODAY show.

“This was not an accident. “He deliberately killed Michael and Alex.”

Read more:

Susan Smith’s ex-husband begs her to stay in prison for killing their children

Susan Smith’s ex-husband describes fears ahead of killer’s parole hearing

15:10 , Andrea Cavalier

Susan Smith drowned her children in the lake and then made up a story about her car being hijacked by a black man. Ready for parole after 30 years

15:01 , Andrea Cavalier

Susan Smith was behind bars for nearly 30 years after she rolled her car into a lake in South Carolina and drowned her two young sons, who were strapped into their car seats.

She made international headlines in October 1994 when she said she had been carjacked late at night near the city of Union and that a Black man had driven away with his sons.

The allegations by Smith, who is white, revived the age-old racist trope that Black men are a danger to white women and raised concerns about crime that were prevalent in 1990s America and remain so today.

For nine days, Smith tearfully pleaded for the safe return of Michael and Alex.

The entire time, the children were in Smith’s car at the bottom of nearby John D. Long Lake.

Andrea Cavallier reports:

Susan Smith drowned her children in the lake. Ready for parole after 30 years

What to expect at Susan Smith’s parole hearing?

14:59 , Andrea Cavalier

Susan Smith, 53, will appear before the seven-member parole board via video stream from prison on Wednesday to plead for her freedom.

She will then go offline and her ex-husband and the children’s father, as well as the prosecutor in the murder case, will claim that she is still in prison.

A decision on parole requires a two-thirds vote of the board members present at the hearing, according to the state Department of Parole, Parole and Pardon Services.

In South Carolina, parole is granted in only eight percent of cases, and less often in a prisoner’s first appearance before the board, in notorious cases or in cases opposed by prosecutors and victims’ families.

Susan Smith’s parole hearing will begin soon

14:52 , Andrea Cavalier

Follow live updates as Susan Smith pleads for her freedom.

A South Carolina woman was convicted of killing her two children in 1994 by rolling her car into a lake while the children were still strapped into their car seats.

The jury found Smith guilty of murder but decided not to sentence him to death. Under state law at the time, he is now eligible for a parole hearing every two years because he has spent 30 years behind bars.

The parole hearing is expected to be held shortly.