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Summary Mary Bell Case Study
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Mary Bell case study, summary of the key events and the sentences and orders which follows, relates directly and can be used throughout the crime module.
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Mary Flora Bell ‘Child Killer’ – (28 May 1957)Mary Bell was an 11 year old girl who in 1968 strangled two young boys; Martin Brown (aged 4)
and Brian Howe (aged 3) in their hometown Scotswood, Newcastle upon Tyne.
Early Life
Mary had a mother who worked as a prostitute, she was often absent from their family home as
she travelled to Glasgow to work. At aged 17, Mary’s mother gave birth to her without knowing
who her biological father. For most of her life Mary believed her father to be a man called Billy
Bell, he was a criminal who was later arrested for armed robbery. In many cases family members
gave accounts of Mary’s mother trying to kill her and make it look accidental. Her family became
suspicious after Mary ‘fell’ from a window and ‘accidently’ swallowed sleeping pills. A witness had
come forward saying that she saw Mary’s mother give her pills and saying they were sweets.
Mary claims she was subjected to repeated sexual abuse, and from a young age being made to
engage in sexual acts with older men.
The Killings
On May 25th 1968, Mary Bell strangled 4 year old Martin Brown in an abandoned house where
she was playing. This strangulation was committed alone. After the first killing she and her friend
Nora Bell (aged 13, with no relation) broke in and vandalized a nursery in their hometown leaving
messages claiming to be responsible for the killings. The police dismissed the incident as a
prank.
On July 31st 1968, the two girls took part in the strangulation on Brian Howe, aged 3. This was
committed in a wasteland in their hometown, Scotswood. Mary Bell later returned to his body to
carve a ‘’M’’ into his stomach also using a pair of scissors to cut his hair, scratch his legs and
mutilate his genitals.
Due to the girls being so young the testimonies they gave contradicted each other so the precise
details of the case are uncertain and will never be truly uncovered. An open verdict had originally
been recorded for Brown's death as there was no evidence of foul play – although Bell had
strangled him, her grip was not hard enough to leave any marks. Eventually, Martin and Brian’s
death had been linked together. In August 1968 Mary and Nora were charged with two counts of
manslaughter.
The conviction
On December 17th 1968, Norma Bell was released from all charges but Mary Bell was convicted
of manslaughter due to her psychiatrist claiming she showed classic symptoms of psychopathy.
The judge described her as dangerous and that she posed a high risk to other children. She was
then sentenced to be detained in the same facility that would house Jon Venables, one of James
Bulger’s child killers, 25 years later. Her mother repeatedly sold stories about her to the press
and often gave reporters writings she claimed to be by her daughter.
Life after prison
In 1980 Mary Bell was released from prison after serving 12 years. She was granted anonymity
allowing her to begin a new life with a new name. Four years after her released she gave birth to
a daughter who did not know of her mother’s passed until the press found Mary’s location and
she had to leave. Mary’s daughters anonymity was originally granted till she was 18 but it was
over ruled and extended for life.
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