Parker and Hulme murder case

This abstract summarizes a podcast presented by Dr. Alison Laurie, which examines the infamous Parker and Hulme murder case of 1954. This case gained notoriety in New Zealand because it involved a criminal act perpetrated by two teenage friends, Juliet Hulme and Pauline Parker, who murdered Parker’s mother. The case is historically significant because it was one of the earliest instances where lesbian relationships were publicly discussed in the New Zealand media, albeit in the negative context of a heinous crime. This representation had a profound effect on societal views towards lesbian relationships during the era.

In the podcast, Dr. Laurie provides background on the individuals involved. Juliet Hulme was the daughter of Hilda and Henry Hulme, English migrants of an upper-class background. Henry Hulme took a prestigious position at Canterbury University College, but their professional choices and personal demeanor, as well as Hilda’s characteristics and actions, were not warmly received by the local community. Their marriage later disintegrated when Hilda began an affair and moved their partner into their home.

Pauline Parker came from a contrasting working-class background and had a difficult and complex relationship with mother Honora Parker. The dynamics of their household included economic struggles, health challenges, and emotional tensions. The intense friendship between Juliet and Pauline raised concerns at their school, with its closeness being termed as potentially unhealthy.

The podcast discusses the unravelling of both Juliet's family and the relationship between Pauline and Honora. These stressors led to a drastic escalation, with Pauline perceiving their mother as an obstacle to their aspirations of maintaining a close bond with Juliet. The two girls planned and executed the murder of Honora with a brick housed in a stocking.

Following the crime, the girls were tried and convicted of first-degree murder, serving five years in prison. The podcast notes that their defense anchored on claims of insanity with a shared delusion known as folie à deux, which included lesbianism as a symptom. The defense's argument is shown to be cynical, whereas the prosecution characterized them as "dirty minded little girls." Throughout their trial, the diaries of Pauline were used by both sides to argue the state of their minds.

However, according to Dr. Laurie, the trial failed to consider the crime as a manifestation of a dysfunctional domestic setting. Furthermore, the potential over-involvement of Juliet in what might have been Pauline's own familial dispute is discussed. The podcast notes the post-incarceration rehabilitation both individuals received and touches on the long-term implications for the individuals involved – Juliet, later revealed as crime novelist Anne Perry, and Pauline, both of whom received new identities and opportunities to rebuild their lives.

Dr. Laurie explains that the widespread coverage and the sensational nature of the case had negative repercussions for the lesbian community in New Zealand. Many relationships were stifled by fear of association with the crime, with the case influencing how lesbians perceived themselves and how they were perceived by society.

The podcast concludes with Dr. Laurie emphasizing the simplicity with which the case has been depicted historically, often overlooking the deeper layers, such as the domestic dynamics that might have triggered the event. The podcast elaborates that the film 'Heavenly Creatures,' while claiming to draw from Pauline's diaries, included significant fabrication, offering insight into the legacy of the Parker and Hulme case in popular culture and its lasting significance on social attitudes towards lesbian relationships.

This summary is created using Generative AI. Although it is based on the recording's transcription, it may contain errors or omissions. Click here to learn more about how this summary was created.

Alison Laurie

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