Food with Passion - for all lovers of good food

17-Dec-2006

 

On this Day: 2003 & 1968: Dual Child murderes found guilty

17th December 1968 & 17th December 2003
 
In a remarkable, but tragic coincidence, 17th December is the anniversary of two child killers being convicted of dual killings of children of the opposite sex to the killer.
 
In 1968, Mary Bell was convicted for the unlawful killings (by strangling) of Martin Brown (aged 4) and Brian Howe (3). Mary Bell was herself a child aged 11 and was sentenced to life in detention.
 
Mary Bell was released on licence in 1980. She was given a new identity and has since had a daughter. When her daughter reached 18 in May 2002 their right to anonymity could have been lifted.

Her case raised controversy again when her biography was published in 1998 and it emerged she had been paid for contributing to the book.

However, the High Court granted them both lifelong anonymity under the Human Rights Act, in May 2003, on the grounds they were entitled to a private and family life.

In 2003, Former school caretaker Ian Huntley (29) was found guilty of the murder of Soham schoolgirls Holly Wells (10) and Jessica Chapman (also 10) and given two life sentences. There was further controversy when his then girlfriend Maxine Carr was sentenced only on grounds of perverting the course of justice.

What was not revealed to the Jury was that Huntley had history of being accused of having sex with underage girls and of rape several times in the past, leading to strong criticism of the police and Social Services, particularly with regard to vetting Huntly's suitability to be employed as School Caretaker. 

This ultimately lead to the early retirement of the Chief Constable of Humberside Police, David Westwood following legal representation by then Home Secretary David Blunkett to the High Court to confirm his authority to remove the officer.

Maxine Carr was subsequently released from prison in May 2004 amidst huge public potests, with her identity protected by a court injunction.

 
It is very easy to suggest that we live in ever more dangerous times with the perception that violent crime is on the increase. I don't believe that there is any evidence of that.
 
However, with 35 years separating these cases and a huge age gap between the perpretators and the levels of trust placed in these killers, it is clear that parents have a difficult, and maybe impossible task to protect their children 100% of the time. I fear for my childrens safety at all times, even if they ride their bike just out of sight, but it is also a part of our job as parents to recognise when children can start to take their first steps away from our protective cloak and learn for themselves the boundaries of safety.
 
We cannot treat everyone as a potential killer and thankfully such cases are rare.


  
 
For a sobering thought, read: David Cameron's Diary: Hands-free more dangerous than Drink Driving
 
Don't settle for high Energy prices, read: David Cameron's Diary: When will UK fuel bills drop? Take some positive action.
 

# posted by David Cameron @ Sunday, December 17, 2006
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