Thirty years after Mary Bell, then 11, was convicted of manslaughter for the deaths of two young boys, a new book by Gitta Sereny has reignited public fury. Bell, now living under a new identity, was released from prison 18 years ago after serving 12 years. The book's publication has drawn criticism from the victims' families and the public, who feel Bell's past should remain buried.
The murders occurred in 1968 in Newcastle upon Tyne. Bell strangled four-year-old Martin Brown in May and three-year-old Brian Howe in July. The trial shocked the nation, with Bell described as tearless and defiant, while her co-accused, Norma Bell, was acquitted. Bell was found guilty of manslaughter on grounds of diminished responsibility, reflecting her own traumatic childhood.
After serving her sentence, Bell was given a new identity to start afresh. Martin Brown's mother, June Richardson, expressed distress at the book's release, saying she had thought of Bell as dead. The case has drawn comparisons to the James Bulger murder and the furore over released paedophiles, highlighting a less forgiving society.
Sereny's book emphasises Bell as a victim of childhood abuse, but critics accuse her of naivety and moral ambiguity, particularly regarding payments made to Bell. The author defends her work as an exploration of compassion, but the public and tabloid reaction has been one of outrage.
