Posted on 08/25/2005 2:37:38 PM PDT by GailA
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
Debbie was raped, stabbed with a short knife to inflict pain, kidnapped, put in the trunk of her own car, which was then left in front of the main library in Memphis in 100 degree plus heat, where she litterly COOKED to death. Her husband hired this done to her. He let them in their home.
Oh i'm sure its just another one of those many misunderstandings...
...then what was it meant to do...?
&&
Exactly. Typical lying Democrat.
When I've asked US Rep John Tanner, former Sen Algore for help to protest these parole hearings on my son Jeremy's killer they all said they couldn't do it due to consitutional conflicts.
JUNIOR is on with Fleming...says he gets 1200 letters a week, this one just got by his staff. His staff wrote it, it just had my name on it...says he supports the death penalty.
Oops!I wanted him to get the death penalty before I wanted him free on parole.
If a hideous murder like this doesn't deserve the death penalty, what does?
Sounds like sKerry. Maybe this guy will run for Pres. too huh?
I just hope this is enough to kill his Senate hopes.
Guy on just before me on the radio said JUNIOR's staff regularly harrassed them at Juvenile court over child support issues for his constiutents..which is a state issue not a federal issue..they are to dumb to understand this oft repeated factoid.
Thanks for posting this Gail. Many people do not realize how important it is to write letters opposing parole unless they are involved in law enforcement OR have been through such a tragedy as you did. This needs to be bookmarked and saved as Ford works at becoming an up and coming lib star. I'm proud to say locally Mr. D.'s office is always publishing parole hearing updates (life sentence...yea right...what a joke!) and info where people can write to oppose parole.
JUNIOR said he doesn't know Mr Charles Traughber the head of the TN parole board...Traughber is the husband of State Rep Lois DeBerry the number 2 person in the TN House.....the highest ranking state person in Memphis and JUNIOR doesn't know her husband is the chairman of the TN parole board? If you believe that I've got ocean front property in Arizona to sell.
Imus will have him on to 'splain it all to us dumb folk who never did understand, I actually did vote for it before I voted against it. Recently returned from Tn. and most people there-that I talked with- don't realize Ford Jr. is a stealth candidate socialist.
Thank Mr D for me. Becca was assured when they redid the trial that none of these guys would be up for parole for at least 20 years. But rules say they have to have a hearing every 6 years.
This is just a win-win situation!
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