Pauline Parker
| Pauline Yvonne Parker | |
|---|---|
| Born |
Pauline Yvonne Rieper 26 May 1938 Christchurch, New Zealand |
| Criminal charge | Murder |
| Criminal penalty | 5 years |
| Criminal status | Released |
| Anne Perry | |
|---|---|
| Born |
Juliet Marion Hulme 28 October 1938 Blackheath, London, United Kingdom |
| Criminal charge | Murder |
| Criminal penalty | 5 years |
| Criminal status | Released |
The Parker–Hulme murder case began in the city of Christchurch, New Zealand, on 22 June 1954, when Honorah Rieper (also known as Honorah Parker, her legal name) was killed by her teenage daughter, Pauline Parker, and Pauline's close friend Juliet Hulme (later known as Anne Perry). Parker was 16 at the time, while Hulme was 15.
The murder has inspired plays, novels, non-fiction books, and films including Peter Jackson's 1994 movie Heavenly Creatures.
On 22 June 1954, the body of Honorah Rieper was discovered in Victoria Park, in Christchurch, New Zealand. That morning Honorah had gone for a walk through Victoria Park with her daughter Pauline Parker, and Pauline's best friend, Juliet Hulme. Approximately 130 metres (430 ft) down the path, in a wooded area of the park near a small wooden bridge, Hulme and Parker bludgeoned Rieper to death with half a brick enclosed in an old stocking. After committing the murder, which they had planned together, the two girls fled, covered in blood, back to the tea kiosk where the three of them had eaten only minutes before. They were met by Agnes and Kenneth Ritchie, owners of the tea shop, whom they told that Honorah had fallen and hit her head. Her body was found by Kenneth Ritchie. Major lacerations were found about her head, neck, and face, with minor injuries to her fingers. Police soon discovered the murder weapon in the nearby woods. The girls' story of Rieper's accidental death quickly fell apart.
Before the trial began, it was discovered that Honorah Rieper had never legally married Herbert Rieper, who was still legally married to another. Though Pauline had always been referred to as Pauline Rieper by all who knew her throughout her life, both Honorah and Pauline were referred to by Honorah's maiden name, Parker, during the trial.
Parker came from a working-class background; while Juliet Hulme was the daughter of Henry Hulme, a physicist who was the rector of University of Canterbury in Christchurch.
As children, Parker had suffered from osteomyelitis and Hulme had suffered from tuberculosis; the latter was sent by her parents to the Bahamas to recuperate. The girls initially bonded over their respective ailments, but, as their friendship developed, they formed an elaborate fantasy life together. They would often sneak out and spend the night acting out stories involving the fictional characters they had created. Their parents found this disturbing and worried that their relationship might be sexual. Homosexuality at the time was considered a serious mental illness, so both sets of parents attempted to prevent the girls from seeing each other.
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Wikipedia