Honorah Mary Parker

Honorah Mary Parker was born in Birmingham on 18 December 1907. Her parents were Robert William Parker and Amy Lilian Parker (nee Blakemore) who married in Mosely, Birmingham on 14 February 1907. Her father Robert died on 16 January 1912 when Honorah was only four years old. In 1927 she and her mother Alice emigrated to New Zealand. Honorah met Herbert Rieper, an accountant at her place of work who was not only married, but 15 years her senior. He left his wife and they cohabitated together, living in Christchurch. In 1936 they had a son together who was sadly a 'blue baby' and died soon after birth. They had a daughter, Wendy in 1937, followed by Pauline in 1938. Their next child was Rosemary, born with Downs' Syndrome so severe that she was institutionalized at Templeton Farm near Christchurch. Honorah's mother Alice visited often and Honorah took in boarders at 31 Gloucester Street. On 22 June 1954 Honorah's daughter, 16-year-old Pauline, and her friend, 15-year-old Juliet Hulme, suggested that she take them on an outing to Victoria Park in Christchurch’s hills. Juliet was to leave the country shortly, and Honorah had refused to allow Pauline to go with her. Following afternoon tea, the three went for a walk in the park, where the girls lured Honorah into bending over to examine an interesting stone they had planted. The teenagers attacked and killed Honorah, taking turns to hold her down and bludgeon her 45 times with a brick in a stocking. Pauline's diary revealed that the girls had planned the murder for some time. The girls were convicted of murder and imprisoned separately “during Her Majesty’s pleasure”. They were released after just five years for the calculated and brutal murder of Honorah which has inspired plays, novels, non-fiction books, and films including Peter Jackson's 1994 film Heavenly Creatures. After Pauline was released she was given a new identity, Hilary Nathan. Pauline has expressed remorse for the murder of her mother through a statement released by her sister. Juliet became a successful crime novelist under the name Anne Perry, but has never expressed any sincere remorse about her part in Honorah's horrific murder.

Sources

1. http://www.adamabrams.com/hc/faq2/Section_3/3.2.5.html
2. NoraSearch Diary by Andrew Conway: http://www.adamabrams.com/hc/faq2/norasearch/nora-intro.html