Posted on 04/13/2023 1:09:41 PM PDT by Red Badger
London-born crime author Anne Perry, who was jailed as a teenager for murdering her friend’s mother, has died at the age of 84, her agent has confirmed.
The writer – who was known for her Pitt and Monk detective novel series, alongside her dark past that was turned into the Oscar-nominated Peter Jackson film Heavenly Creatures – died on Monday (10 April) in Los Angeles, where she had been living.
A statement from Ki Agency said: “Anne was a loyal and loving friend, and her writing was driven by her fierce commitment to raising awareness around social injustice.
“Many readers have been moved by her empathy for people backed into impossible situations, or overwhelmed by the difficulties of life.
“Her characters inspired much love among her fans, and comforted many readers who were going through tough times themselves.”
In 1954 at the age of 15, Perry, who was born Juliet Hulme, was convicted along with her friend Pauline Parker of murder.
The pair bludgeoned Parker’s mother to death with a brick in a stocking in Christchurch, New Zealand – becoming two of the country’s most notorious killers.
The events would later be the inspiration behind director Jackson’s 1994 psychological drama, starring Kate Winslet in a break-out role and Melanie Lynskey, which received an Academy Award nod for screenplay writing.
As both Perry and Parker were under 18 at the time of the killing, neither could be sentenced to death and they were instead subject to “detention during Her Majesty’s pleasure”, according to the New Zealand government website.
After serving a five-year prison sentence, Perry was released and changed her name, returning to the UK and later beginning her writing career.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
I murdered someone but care about social justice!
Yeah… sounds about right for these nut jobs.
Good riddance.
Disturbing story. Also a disturbing but very well crafted film.
I hope she put her trust in Jesus otherwise she is not in a better place
Wow. I actually knew of the original murder trial (I think at this point it’s a pretty obscure case but I came across a British book about crime when I was a kid, and the book covered it). I had no idea that one of the girls was still alive and had become a famous author under a different name.
Oh, too bad. I’m a big fan of her books, which I’ve been reading since I was in high school.
The article states she became a Mormon.
She told them she would not be traveling to London to sign the affidavit, because it the story was true.
Pauline Parker is still alive. She lives in England and, at 84, has probably retired from teaching horseback riding.
She wrote some terrific books
“Anne was a loyal and loving friend...”
Loyal, yes. Loving, no.
I remember Heavenly Creatures, and I’d heard of Anne Perry, but I had no idea this was the same person.
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