Hilary Nathan
Hilary Nathan, born Pauline Parker, is a reclusive hermit who lives in south-east England. In 1954 she was convicted of the murder of her mother Honorah Rieper, which she committed with the help of her then best friend, Juliet Marion Hulme, at the age of 15. After Pauline's release from prison, she disappeared from public view, becoming a reclusive hermit, and living out a quiet life in a rural village in south-east England under the name Hilary Nathan.
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| “ | Pauline committed the most terrible crime and has spent 40 years repaying it by keeping away from people and doing her own little thing...After it happened, she was very sorry about it. It took her about five years to realise what she had done. | „ |
| ~ Pauline/Hilary's sister |
Murder of Honorah Rieper edit
The incident edit
In June 1954 while they were 15, Juliet and her best friend Paulne Parker murdered Parker's mother, Honorah Rieper. Juliet's parents were in the process of moving to South Africa to stay with a relative. The two teenage friends, who had created a fantasy life together with famous actors, did not want to be separated.
The girls went for a walk with Honorah Rieper in Victoria Park in their hometown of Christchurch. Pauline hit her mother with half a brick wrapped in a stocking. The pair had assumed that a single blow would kill Honorah, but it took over 20. After committing the murder, the two girls fled while still covered in blood, back to the tea kiosk where the three of them had eaten only minutes before. They told owners of the tea shop, that Honorah had fallen and hit her head.
The duo's story began to fall apart when the police discovered Honorah's cause of death, the lacerations on her head, and other such evidence on Honorah's body. The Police also discovered the murder weapon in the nearby woods. It did not take long for Pauline and Juliet's guilt to become obvious.
Trial edit
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Juliet and Pauline stood trial in that same year. Their trial was a sensational affair, with speculation about Pauline and Juliet's possible sexual and/or romantic connection, and their insanity. The two were both found guilty on 29 August. They were too young to be considered for the death penalty, so were convicted and sentenced to be "detained at Her Majesty's pleasure". They were released separately five years later. Juliet and Pauline are not believed to have had any contact since the trial.
Their murder was taken as strong evidence of moral decline by the Special Committee on Moral Delinquency in Children and Adolescents.
Later life & legacy edit
What happened to Pauline after her release from prison remained a mystery for many years until around 2007, when the media was able to track her down. Pauline was discovered to have changed her name to Hilary Nathan. She now lives in a rural town in the south-east of England.
A movie based on her and Juliet's lives and crime called Heavenly Creatures was made in 1994.
Personality edit
During their childhood, Pauline and Juliet had an obsessive relationship, which ultimately lead to the murder of Pauline's mother.
Unlike her partner in crime, who has since made peace with her past and used it to better her life, Hilary appears to have never truly gotten over her past, and lives a damaged life as a reclusive hermit, away from others. She is, however, a devout catholic and apparently spends much of her time devoted to prayer. Although Hilary herself has refused to speak to the press, Hilary's sister has claimed that Hilary is deeply remorseful and has spent the rest of her life repaying for what she has done.
Trivia edit
- There are many who speculate that Anne and Juliet's obsessive relationship was in some way sexual. However Anne Perry herself has come out and outright said, "we were not lesbians".