InDepthNH.org is posting the letter Pam Smart’s mother Linda Wojas sent to Rockingham County Superior Court Judge Andrew Schulman and the “people of New Hampshire” about the order he wrote March 8 releasing the gun used to kill Gregg Smart to its original owner. Gregg Smart was killed in Derry on May 1, 1990. Pam Smart has always maintained her innocence and is serving life with no chance for parole. Judge Schulman’s order is linked below. InDepthNH.org asked court spokesman Carole Alfano to seek a response from Judge Schulman. Alfano said the order speaks for itself.
By Linda Wojas: An Open Letter to Judge Andrew Schulman and the People of New Hampshire
Honorable Judge Andrew Schulman Rockingham County Superior Court Rockingham County Courthouse
P.O.Box 1258
Kingston, NH 03848-1258
Re: Thirteen (13) Page Order in The State of NH v Pamela Smart 218-1990-S-1371 Judge Schulman:
It is with deep sadness and concern that I feel the need to contact you regarding the above-captioned matter relative to the return of Mr. Lattime’s property. I do not understand your need to pontificate inaccurately on this matter. Your order reeks of judicial impropriety.
Please be advised that there are not one, but two, “families suffering to this day.” My family, as well as the Smart family, suffer to this day. My daughter has been imprisoned for twenty-six years for a crime she did not commit. For you to equate her with “Bonnie & Clyde” is disgraceful, shameful and hurtful. The people who did in fact murder our son-in-law, Gregg, and have all been released, could best be described as the true villains. William Flynn took Gregg’s life and later Pamela’s life, then lied his way to freedom.
Before your reversal, I contacted, and was assured, by Mr. Lattime’s lawyer that indeed, he did not intend to “sell it to the highest bidder on eBay.” I cringed when I read your statement which now plants the seed to do exactly that. I feel I will have you to thank if this does, in fact, occur.
Wrongly, you stated “Smart has not objected to Lattime Sr.’s motion. Smart has thus forfeited any argument she might have had for safekeeping the gun pending further proceedings. Therefore, she will not be heard to complain about any future inability to subject the gun to further forensic testing.” Are you unaware that she did object and did prevail in 1995 when the state of New Hampshire attempted to destroy all evidence in her case?
Shame on you for jumping on the bandwagon of perpetuating the false narrative that has driven the hate-filled public in New Hampshire for my daughter, Pamela Smart. Was it really necessary to retry the case in the media in your thirteen (13) page order thereby injecting your personal views and tainting any future legal relief for my daughter? As you know, in New Hampshire a person who maintains her innocence is punished more severely than an admitted plea-bargained murderer.
Pamela was denied her constitutional right to a fair trial by another judge who invited the eyes of the world into his courtroom yet refused to put in place the safeguards to protect her. I cannot help but feel this would never have occurred had she been your daughter or the daughter of another judge.
Linda A. Wojas
Cc: Judicial Conduct Committee