Copyright 1993 The Atlanta Constitution   The Atlanta Journal and Constitution March 25, 1993 SECTION: LOCAL NEWS; Section G; Page 2 LENGTH: 363 words HEADLINE: D.A. agrees to young lifer's parole Sentenced as teen in '86 slaying of lover's husband BYLINE: By Bill Montgomery STAFF WRITERhomicide; sentencings; courts BODY: Michael Carl Kettman, the teenager seduced by Cobb County housewife Jimmie Sue Finger Gambrel into killing her husband in 1986, will be paroled from prison next Wednesday after serving the minimum seven years of a life murder sentence. Kettman, now 25, was convicted in October 1986, of shooting to death Terry Lee Finger, the one-time Kennesaw beautician's husband. He cooperated with the prosecution at Gambrel's trial and conviction three years later, testifying that Gambrel encouraged him to kill Mr. Finger and used sex as an enticement. The well-publicized murder case was made into a television movie, "Stay the Night," which aired on ABC-TV last April. Michael Light, a spokesman for the Georgia Board of Pardons and Paroles, said Wednesday the board voted last week to grant parole to Kettman, who was described as a model prisoner and a member of the prison fire department at Wayne County Correctional Institution. The inmate had just become eligible for parole consideration Feb. 23. Family was 'hoping, praying' "We knew he was eligible and were just waiting and hoping and praying," said Blanche Kettman, the inmate's mother, after learning of her son's impending parole. "He didn't want to talk about it because he didn't want to get his hopes up," said Diane McCoy, a sister. "So we just prayed." Kettman's parole had the quiet backing of Cobb District Attorney Tom Charron because of the defendant's testimony against Jimmie Sue Gambrel. "He and his family were instrumental in that prosecution, and the fact was made known to the parole board as a mark in his favor," said Assistant District Attorney Jack Mallard. "The board considered Jimmie Sue Gambrel as the real culprit in the matter," said Mr. Light. Convicted of murder in 1989, she is serving a life sentence at the state women's prison and will be eligible for parole consideration in March 1996. Mr. Light said it is relatively unusual for convicted murderers to be given parole on their first review, seven years after conviction. "Last year, out of 1,047 lifers, only 35 were paroled on their first review, and most of them were accessories to murder, not the killers," he said. GRAPHIC: Photo: Mug shot of Michael Carl Kettman Photo: Mug shot of Jimmie Sue Finger Gambrel