Jury Rejected Insanity Submissions (Press, 17 June 1989)

The trial of Juliet Hulme and Pauline Parker captured the attention of Christchurch, lasting from 23 to 28 August 1954. The defence team for Hulme included Terence Gresson and Brian McClelland, while Parker was defended by Dr Alec Haslam and Jim Wicks. The Crown was represented by Peter Mahon and Alan Brown. The defence accepted that the girls were responsible for the murder of Parker's mother, but claimed they were insane at the time of the act. The defence's central argument was that the girls suffered from a specific type of insanity known as "folie à deux," a shared delusion. Dr Reginald Medlicott, a psychiatrist who assessed the girls and examined their writings, testified that their delusions were of an exalted nature, marked by paranoia. He noted that their close relationship hindered their emotional development and contributed to their mental instability. Although there was no confirmed physical relationship, suggestive evidence indicated they had an extraordinarily intense bond, which became detrimental. Dr Medlicott described the girls as attempting to convince themselves of their insanity, highlighting that they exhibited compulsive behaviours without acting on them. He expressed concern over their arrogance and lack of remorse, particularly citing statements from Parker regarding the threats posed by her mother to their friendship. Dr Francis Bennett corroborated the view that their actions arose from a deep insanity, stating that their decision to murder was a misguided justification for preserving their bond. The Crown countered this narrative by presenting three psychiatrists who assessed the girls and declared them sane. Dr Kenneth Stallworthy observed that he had never encountered two insane individuals collaborating on a crime, reinforcing that Parker and Hulme were aware of the law and the wrongness of their actions. Other Crown experts echoed this sentiment, dismissing claims of insanity and highlighting the girls' emotional composure during the trial. As the trial concluded, the jury took just over two hours to return a guilty verdict. However, due to their youth, Hulme and Parker were not sentenced to death; instead, Mr Justice Adams sentenced them to an indefinite term at Her Majesty's pleasure. The pair were then imprisoned at Mount Eden, but they were kept apart. Despite the jury's ruling, they did not receive psychiatric treatment. Both women were released before 1960, but the notoriety of the case made reintegration into society challenging. Speculation regarding their post-release lives followed, with reports suggesting Parker adopted a new identity and sought a life in Catholicism, eventually working at a Catholic institution. Hulme, on the other hand, was reportedly married and residing in the United States, pursuing a career as a writer.

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