Maria Colwell
Encyclopedia
Maria Colwell was an English
child who was killed by her stepfather in 1973. The case was widely reported at the time and resulted in a public enquiry.
More than 30 years on from her death her name has remained in the public consciousness and has often been referred to when similar cases have come to light, such as the death of Victoria Climbié
in 2000 and Peter Connelly
in 2007.
Her situation changed drastically when she returned to live with her biological mother Pauline on the Whitehawk
council estate in Brighton
, in England
.
Pauline was no longer living with Maria's father and now had a new partner, William Kepple. He had children of his own and had no compunction in favouring them, for example buying them ice creams and requiring Maria to watch as they ate them.
Many neighbours and teachers communicated concerns to various agencies. Nevertheless, even though she appeared to be "almost a walking skeleton", she was allowed to remain with Kepple and her step-siblings.
On the night of 6 January 1973 she was wheeled in a pram
to the Royal Sussex County Hospital
in Brighton with severe internal injuries including brain damage
and she died shortly after arrival.
The Report of the Committee of Inquiry into the Care and Supervision Provided in Relation to Maria Colwell chaired by Thomas Gilbert Field Fisher, a Recorder
of the Crown Court, identified three main contributory factors: the lack of communication between the agencies who were aware of her vulnerable situation; inadequate training for social workers assigned to at risk children; and changes in the make up of society.
Kepple was later found guilty of manslaughter
and sentenced to eight years in prison, though his sentence was halved on appeal.
findings finally generated the government legislation known as Every Child Matters
.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
child who was killed by her stepfather in 1973. The case was widely reported at the time and resulted in a public enquiry.
More than 30 years on from her death her name has remained in the public consciousness and has often been referred to when similar cases have come to light, such as the death of Victoria Climbié
Victoria Climbié
In 2000 in London, England, an eight-year-old Ivorian girl Victoria Adjo Climbié was tortured and murdered by her guardians...
in 2000 and Peter Connelly
Death of Baby P
Peter Connelly was an English 17-month old boy who died in London after suffering more than 50 injuries over an eight-month period, during which he was repeatedly seen by Haringey Children's services and NHS health professionals...
in 2007.
Life and death
Born on March 25, 1965, Maria was fostered at an early age and her surrogate parents found her a happy normal little girl.Her situation changed drastically when she returned to live with her biological mother Pauline on the Whitehawk
Whitehawk
Whitehawk is a suburb in the east of Brighton, part of the English city of Brighton and Hove.The area is a large, modern housing estate built in a downland dry valley historically known as Whitehawk Bottom. The estate was originally developed by the local authority between 1933 and 1937 and...
council estate in Brighton
Brighton
Brighton is the major part of the city of Brighton and Hove in East Sussex, England on the south coast of Great Britain...
, in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
.
Pauline was no longer living with Maria's father and now had a new partner, William Kepple. He had children of his own and had no compunction in favouring them, for example buying them ice creams and requiring Maria to watch as they ate them.
Many neighbours and teachers communicated concerns to various agencies. Nevertheless, even though she appeared to be "almost a walking skeleton", she was allowed to remain with Kepple and her step-siblings.
On the night of 6 January 1973 she was wheeled in a pram
Pram
Pram may refer to:*Pram, Austria* Pram , a musical group* Pram , a type of shallow-draught, flat-bottomed ship * A type of dinghy with a flat bow* A type of wheeled baby transport...
to the Royal Sussex County Hospital
Royal Sussex County Hospital
The Royal Sussex County Hospital is an acute teaching hospital in Brighton, England. Together with the Princess Royal Hospital , it is administered by the Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust...
in Brighton with severe internal injuries including brain damage
Brain damage
"Brain damage" or "brain injury" is the destruction or degeneration of brain cells. Brain injuries occur due to a wide range of internal and external factors...
and she died shortly after arrival.
Aftermath
The tragedy captured the public’s attention and the press called for action. Despite the publication of a book urging the tragedy not to be forgotten it took over 30 years before agencies were required by law to guarantee the free-flow of information.The Report of the Committee of Inquiry into the Care and Supervision Provided in Relation to Maria Colwell chaired by Thomas Gilbert Field Fisher, a Recorder
Recorder (judge)
A Recorder is a judicial officer in England and Wales. It now refers to two quite different appointments. The ancient Recorderships of England and Wales now form part of a system of Honorary Recorderships which are filled by the most senior full-time circuit judges...
of the Crown Court, identified three main contributory factors: the lack of communication between the agencies who were aware of her vulnerable situation; inadequate training for social workers assigned to at risk children; and changes in the make up of society.
"It is not enough for the State as representing society to assume responsibility for those such as Maria" Fisher
Kepple was later found guilty of manslaughter
Manslaughter
Manslaughter is a legal term for the killing of a human being, in a manner considered by law as less culpable than murder. The distinction between murder and manslaughter is said to have first been made by the Ancient Athenian lawmaker Dracon in the 7th century BC.The law generally differentiates...
and sentenced to eight years in prison, though his sentence was halved on appeal.
Subsequent developments
Despite the local authority commissioning its own response to Fisher’s findings, Children at risk : a study by the East Sussex County Council into the problems revealed by the Report of the Inquiry into the case of Maria Colwell and repeated “it must never happen again” press articles] there were several high profile cases after the Colwell case (for example Heidi Koseda, Jasmine Beckford and Toni-Ann Byfield) before the Victoria ClimbiéVictoria Climbié
In 2000 in London, England, an eight-year-old Ivorian girl Victoria Adjo Climbié was tortured and murdered by her guardians...
findings finally generated the government legislation known as Every Child Matters
Every Child Matters
Every Child Matters is a UK government initiative that was launched in 2003, at least partly in response to the death of Victoria Climbié...
.