William ' Billy ' Flynn was granted parole by a three-person board in New Hampshire on Thursday - his 41st birthday . He is being held in a prison in Maine so took part in the hearing by phone . He will not be freed before June 4 but will then be reunited with his wife Kelly , whom he married from behind bars in 2006 . Flynn was seduced by teacher Pamela Smart , then 22 , and shot dead her husband Gregg Smart , 24 , in 1990 . At Pamela Smart 's trial , Flynn said she had threatened to break up with him if he did n't kill her husband , but she denies knowing about the murder . Comment: The case inspired the 1995 movie 'To Die For ' starring Nicole Kidman and Joaquin Phoenix .
William 'Billy ' Flynn was granted parole by a three-person board in New Hampshire on Thursday - his 41st birthday . He is being held in a prison in Maine so took part in the hearing by phone . He will not be freed before June 4 but will then be reunited with his wife Kelly , whom he married from behind bars in 2006 . Flynn was seduced by teacher Pamela Smart , then 22 , and shot dead her husband Gregg Smart , 24 , in 1990 . At Pamela Smart 's trial , Flynn said she had threatened to break up with him if he did n't kill her husband , but she denies knowing about the murder . Smart is serving life in prison without the possibility of parole . The case inspired the 1995 movie 'To Die For ' starring Nicole Kidman and Joaquin Phoenix .