Killer to stay in prison after parole bid rejected

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Martin Bell attacked 23-year-old Gemma Simpson with a hammer and stabbed her at his flat in Harrogate in May 2000. He then dismembered her body and buried her at Brimham Rocks near Pateley Bridge.

Gemma, from Leeds, was treated as a missing person until Bell confessed in 2014. He was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 11 years and 205 days after admitting manslaughter with diminished responsibility.

His appeal was heard by the Parole Board who said it was not satisfied that release at this point would be safe for the protection of the public.

In a statement it said the case was heard via video link on 14 September.

It said: "As required by law, Mr Bell's case was referred to the Parole Board by the Secretary of State for Justice to determine whether he could be safely released on parole licence.

"The panel could only direct release if it was satisfied that it was no longer necessary for the protection of the public that Mr Bell remained confined in prison.

"Prior to the hearing, Mr Bell's legal representative had asked that the review be deferred to allow Mr Bell time to complete periods of temporary overnight release from the open prison where he was being held.

"The professionals involved in the case had indicated that they would expect a year of testing to take place prior to considering recommending Mr Bell's release on life licence."

Warning: This story contains distressing details

At the time of the offence, Bell had been suffering from a mental illness and had spent about nine months in hospital under the Mental Health Act.

He was discharged six weeks before he killed Gemma, who he knew, attacking her with a hammer and stabbing her in the back and the back of her head.

Bell dragged her body to the bath and laid her face down, where he left her for several days before he buried her at Brimham Rocks.

He kept his crime a secret until in July 2014 he walked into a police station in Scarborough and confessed, telling officers where he had buried her body.

A psychiatric report carried out after Bell's arrest diagnosed him with a psychotic mental illness and, during his trial, Leeds Crown Court heard he told Gemma that God wanted him to kill her.

Bell, from Scarborough, was given a minimum term of 12 years, but this was reduced to 11 years and 205 days because of the time spent in custody.

In 2025 the Parole Board recommended he be moved to an open prison, but he recently applied for full release.

Gemma's sister Naomi Carrack said she had been told Bell can appeal the decision in the next 28 days.

"I feel relieved that the monster has had his parole declined but I also have no faith in the justice system and feel our relief is temporary," she said.

"The agony continues. This is just further hurt and pain to burden us as a family.

"The monster will be free in a short time, I have no doubt but for now he stays in open conditions. It's bittersweet."

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