Newspapers drop fight on killer's anonymity
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Two national newspaper groups said yesterday they would no longer contest a High Court attempt by the child killer Mary Bell to extend an anonymity order protecting her and her daughter for life.
Lawyers for Mirror Group Newspapers and News Group, which publishes The Sun and News of the World, said they would not oppose the injunction but reserved the right to return to court.
The newspapers had been named as defendants in the action brought by Bell, who achieved notoriety at the age of 11 when she killed two boys, aged three and four, in Tyneside in 1968.
Lady Justice Butler-Sloss, sitting in the Family Division of the High Court in London, adjourned the case yesterday after hearing new evidence had been brought forward to support the application for lifetime anonymity.
Bell, who lives under an assumed identity, and her daughter were granted anonymity in 1998. That injunction expired in May this year when the child reached 18 but was temporarily extended. No new date has been set for the resumed hearing.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments