Wilmington murderer granted parole

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — A Wilmington man convicted of murder more than two decades ago will soon be paroled from prison, according to the state agency that handles such cases.

The NC Post-Release Supervision and Parole Commission sent out a notice that Iris Hill, who was convicted in 1991 of second-degree murder, has been granted parole. The state’s current structured sentencing law eliminated parole for crimes committed on or after Oct. 1, 1994, but the commission still paroles offenders sentenced under the old law.

According to a story in the Oct. 10, 1990, edition of the Wilmington Morning Star, Wilmington Police arrested Hill after chasing him into the New Hanover County Library a day earlier. Police wanted Hill, who is now 50, for the Sept. 29, 1990, shooting death of Kennedy Richard Smith, 26. According to the newspaper story, witnesses told police Smith had argued with a man at a store on the corner of 8th and Dock streets at about 3:20 p.m. that day. He was then shot in the chest under his left arm, police said, staggered across the street and collapsed on the sidewalk. A story from the day after the shooting reports Smith died less than an hour later at the hospital.

Hill, who was sentenced to life in prison, is currently in custody at New Hanover Correctional Center, according to the NC Department of Correction website. The site also says Hill has committed four infractions during his more than 23 years in state custody.

According to Department of Correction spokesman Keith Acree, Hill was first eligible for parole in 2000 and has been denied parole at least six times since. Acree says Hill is scheduled to be released from prison Jan. 26. He will then undergo five years supervision, which Acree says is standard for life sentences.

“After five years, he is free and clear,” Acree said.