Her friend, and neighbour, thirteen-year-old, Norma Bell, no relation, was acquitted. In 1968, at the age of eleven, Mary Bell was tried, and convicted, of manslaughter after the death of two small boys in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. You can read this before Cries Unheard: Why Children Kill: The Story of Mary Bell PDF EPUB full Download at the bottom.

Here is a quick description and cover image of book Cries Unheard: Why Children Kill: The Story of Mary Bell written by Gitta Sereny which was published in January 1, 1998. Included with this edition, is Sereny’s account of the James Bulger murder and the police investigation.Ī troubling and thoughtful book that harks back to a time when the concept of a child killing another child was unheard of in this country.Brief Summary of Book: Cries Unheard: Why Children Kill: The Story of Mary Bell by Gitta Sereny More than fifty years on, the name Mary Bell still evokes strong feelings, but what comes across most clearly in this book is the hopelessness of Mary’s situation and, perhaps, the inevitability of tragedy. At the time, suitable custodial arrangements did not exist for very young children, and the authorities found themselves in a difficult position in finding a suitable ‘prison’ for Mary. What is most interesting, is the difference in the way crimes of this type are handled now, and how those involved are dealt with.

In detailed scenes including police reports, witness statements and court documents, the author unpicks the minutiae of Bell’s life, especially the influence of the mother, whose personal history and actions following the court case, shine an intriguing light on the case. Gita Sereny digs into the background of the families involved, highlighting the social and familial influences on Mary Bell and her parents. However, with the murders occurring only a few miles from my hometown, the case is one of those that sticks in my memory. I like to think I remember this case, though at the time, I would only have been about seven years old. Investigative journalist Gitta Sereny tells the story of this terrible crime, charting the background, lead-up to the murders, the trial and the aftermath. The oldest girl, Norma, is acquitted, but the younger and more advanced Mary Bell, is found guilty of manslaughter. Two girls aged eleven and thirteen are accused of strangling two little boys – four-year-old Martin Brown and three-year-old Brian Howe.

The Case of Mary Bell by Gitta Sereny