Britt loses parole bid in Groseclose slaying
By Lawrence Buser
August 25, 2005
Despite an unintentional boost from U.S. Rep. Harold Ford Jr., a Memphis man serving a life sentence for the 1977 rape and murder of Deborah Groseclose has been denied parole for at least another six years.
At the Aug. 11 parole hearing for Phillip Michael Britt, a letter from the Memphis Democrat was entered on Britt's behalf in which Ford asks the parole board to "take into consideration the positive steps Mr. Britt has taken" while behind bars.
On Wednesday Ford said the staff-written letter was never meant to endorse Britt's efforts for parole and did not represent his views. He said he later called the parole board and sent a second letter to clarify that he does not support Britt's efforts for parole.
"My intention was ... by no means to provide any support for somebody who I thought should have gotten the death penalty," Ford said. "I'm a strong supporter of any family that's been victimized by a murderer or a criminal like this. My name's on the letter so I have to take responsibility, but we've taken steps in my office to ensure that this never happens again."
In a 2000 appearance before the parole board, Britt was denied a new hearing for 20 years, but new rulings say parole cannot be denied for more than six years.
This time Britt, 47, who helped prosecutors convict two codefendants in a 1999 retrial, enlisted the help of Ford, citing his accomplishments while behind bars and telling him "it would go a long way if you could write a letter to the parole board on my behalf."
Deborah Groseclose, 24, was raped, stabbed, strangled and left to die in the summer heat in the trunk of her car in 1977. Britt and Ronald Rickman were hired by her husband, William Groseclose, to carry out the murder.
Groseclose and Rickman initially were sentenced to death, but in a new trial they were convicted again and sentenced to life in prison. They have parole hearings scheduled for 2007.
Groseclose's sister, Rebecca Easley, testified by videoconference in Nashville against Britt's parole on Aug. 11. The hearing was at Northeast Correctional Complex in Mountain City, where Britt is imprisoned.
"The only remorse he has is for his own situation, one that he created," she said. "He overlooks the fact that parole is not a right, but merely a privilege. This is a sad situation, but it's a situation that Britt chose to put himself in. I wish Debbie could come home to us, too."
Ford talked to Easley on Wednesday to assure her that he is opposed to parole for Britt.
Britt's next appearance before the parole board will be in August 2011, said board spokesman Jack Elder.
-- Lawrence Buser: 529-2385