Parliamentary Search

Early day motion tabled by primary sponsor Lindsay Hoyle (Labour), on Monday, 27 April 1998, in the House of Commons. It is signed by 27 members in total.

PROFITS FROM MURDER

That this House notes with disgust reports that payments of ??50,000 have been given to Mary Bell, a child killer convicted in 1968 of murdering two children; notes that this payment has been offered for her collaboration in a book about her life entitled 'Cries Unheard', published by Macmillan and written by Gitta Sereny; believes that this payment is deeply offensive to the general population and to the parents of the victims, as Mary Bell should not be permitted to profit from these tragedies; further notes that this book should be banned; and calls upon the Home Secretary to take action to ensure that other criminals are not able to make money from their crimes.

Amendments

The Early day motion has received an amendment.

PROFITS FROM MURDER (1251A1)
The Early day motion has received an amendment sponsored by Hilton Dawson (primary, Labour) and tabled on Monday, 27 April 1998. It has been signed by 10 members in total.
leave out from 'notes' to end and add 'that Mary Bell was herself a child of 11 years when she committed the grave crimes for which she was convicted of manslaughter some 30 years ago; believes that the concept of rehabilitation should form a vital part of any humane criminal justice system; calls upon all elements of the media to respect the privacy of Mary Bell and her family; anticipates that the forthcoming book, Cries Unheard, will be serious attempt to understand why children commit grave crimes; utterly sympathises with the families of the victims; and, in so doing, calls upon the Home Secretary to take action to ensure that the profits of all crime benefits the victims rather than the perpetrators.'.

Secondary information

Type
Early day motion
Reference
1251 
1251A1 
Session
1997-98
Subjects
Homicide Biography Bell, Mary Sereny, Gitta
Link
View this Early day motion on www.parliament.uk