Teenage Killer Who Inspired Kate Winslet Film Dies at 88

Pauline Parker, who as a teenager bludgeoned her mother to death with a friend, has died at the age of 88. The murder, committed in New Zealand in 1954, inspired the 1994 film "Heavenly Creatures," starring Kate Winslet.

Parker, then 16, and her 15-year-old friend Juliet Hulme killed Honora Reiper in Christchurch. The pair used a brick wrapped in a stocking in the attack, which occurred more than seven decades ago. A psychiatrist testified that the teenagers believed it was their "moral right" to kill, citing shared paranoia and delusions.

Parker and Hulme were convicted of murder but avoided the death penalty due to their age. Parker served five years in Paparua prison, and Hulme spent time in various correctional facilities. After their release, both were given new identities and relocated to Scotland. Reports indicate they never met again after the murder.

Parker, who adopted the name Hilary Nathan, died in retirement housing in the village of St Margaret’s Hope, in Orkney, with her death registered earlier this month. Hulme, under the name Anne Perry, became a crime author known for her novels exploring themes of killing, justice, and morality. She died in 2023. Her brother stated that Perry had deep regrets about her past and spent her life trying to atone for her actions.

The 1994 film "Heavenly Creatures," directed by Peter Jackson, depicted the events of the murder, with Melanie Lynskey playing Parker and Winslet portraying Hulme.