A gunman who killed three students in a school shooting in December 1997 is up for parole this coming week.
Michael Carneal was just 14 years old when he opened fire on his high school classmates at a prayer meeting before classes in Kentucky, US.
Nicole Hadley, 14, Jessica James, 17, Kayce Steger, 15, all lost their lives on 1 December 1997.
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Alongside the three children that lost their lives, Carneal injured five others at Heath High School near the city of Paducah.
The shooting ended after Carneal dropped his weapon and the principal walked him to the school office.
When Carneal was sentenced to life imprisonment, there was an opportunity for parole after 25 years if that sentence was served - this was the maximum sentence allowed at the time for someone his age.
Now 39, Carneal will have his parole hearing this week.
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One of the victims of that dark day was Missy Jenkins Smith, who was left paralysed after being shot in the chest by Carneal and now uses a wheelchair to get around.
Jenkins Smith has been keeping tabs over Carneal's situation over the years and how long it was until he could be released on parole.
Speaking to AP, she said: "Twenty-five years seemed like so long, so far away.
"I would think, 'It’s been 10 years. How many more years?' At the 20-year anniversary memorial, I thought, 'It’s coming up.'"
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She does not believe Carneal should be released as he could be unable to handle life outside of prison and cause harm to others.
She added: "For him to have a chance at 39. People get married at 39. They have children. It's not right for him to possibly have a normal life that those three girls he killed will never have."
In 2007, Jenkins Smith even visited Carneal in prison where he apologised to her, with the victim forgiving him.
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She added: "A lot of people think that exonerates him from consequences, but I don’t think so."
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Carneal's public hearing is due to begin on Monday (19 September) with a testimony from the people injured in the shooting and close relatives of those who were killed.
Jenkins Smith says she knows one victim who believes Carneal should be granted parole.
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