Maria Colwell

Maria Colwell
Maria Colwell
Born 26 March 1965(1965-03-26)
Hove, England
Died 6 January 1973(1973-01-06) (aged 7)
Brighton, England
Cause of death Child abuse
Parents Pauline Colwell
(mother)
William Kepple
(step father)

Maria Colwell (26 March 1965 - 6 January 1973) was an English child who was killed by her stepfather in 1973.[1] 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.[2][3]

Contents

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.[4]

Her situation changed drastically[5] when she returned to live with her biological mother Pauline[6] 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,[7] for example buying them ice creams and requiring Maria to watch as they ate them.

Many neighbours and teachers communicated concerns to various agencies.[8] Nevertheless, even though she appeared to be "almost a walking skeleton", she was allowed to remain with Kepple and her step-siblings.[9]

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.[10]

Aftermath

The tragedy captured the public’s attention and the press called for action.[11] Despite the publication of a book urging the tragedy not to be forgotten[12] it took over 30 years before agencies were required by law to guarantee the free-flow of information.[13]

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.

"It is not enough for the State as representing society to assume responsibility for those such as Maria" Fisher[14]

Kepple was later found guilty of manslaughter and sentenced to eight years in prison, though his sentence was halved on appeal.[15]

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[16] and repeated “it must never happen again” press articles][17] there were several high profile cases after the Colwell case (for example Heidi Koseda,[18] Jasmine Beckford[19] and Toni-Ann Byfield) before the Victoria Climbié findings[20] finally generated the government legislation known as Every Child Matters.

References

  1. ^ The Tragedy of Maria Colwell Scott,P.D: British Journal of J Criminology.1975; 15: 88-90
  2. ^ "'Baby P effect' causing rise in care applications says Douglas". Family Law Week. http://www.familylawweek.co.uk/site.aspx?i=ed27934. Retrieved 2009-08-22. 
  3. ^ Professor Nigel Parton (2003-07). "From Maria Colwell to Victoria Climbie: Reflections on a generation of public inquiries into child abuse". Child Abuse Review. http://www.gptsw.net/papers/clwlclmbi.pdf. Retrieved 2009-08-22. 
  4. ^ The Times, Tuesday, 23 October 1973; pg. 3; Issue 58920; col A Foster-parents not told of decision to move girl
  5. ^ Wave Trust A tale of 10 children
  6. ^ The Times, Wednesday, 17 October 1973; pg. 2; Issue 58915; col F Criticism of girl's return to her mother
  7. ^ The Times, Thursday, 31 May 1973; pg. 2; Issue 58796; col F Stepfather's preferential treatment
  8. ^ The Times, Wednesday, 10 October 1973; pg. 4; Issue 58909; col A Thirty complaints of ill-treatment before girl died-QC
  9. ^ The Times, Thursday, 11 October 1973; pg. 3; Issue 58910; col A Girl was like a living skeleton, neighbour tells inquiry
  10. ^ Batty, David (27 January 2003). "Catalogue of cruelty". London: Guardian. http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2003/jan/27/childrensservices.childprotection. Retrieved 2009-08-22. 
  11. ^ "Social work, child abuse and the press" Wroe,A: Norwich, Social Work Monographs, 1988 ISBN 0946751498
  12. ^ "Remember Maria”Howells,JG: London, Butterworth 1974 ISBN 040738541X
  13. ^ "Scandal, Social Policy and Social Welfare" Butler,I;Drakefore,M: Bristol Policy, 2005 ISBN 1861347464
  14. ^ Great Britain. Committee of Inquiry into the Care and Supervision Provided in Relation to Maria Colwell London HMSO 1974 ISBN 0113205961
  15. ^ "The Argus - News, Sport, Brighton and Hove Albion and Entertainment for Brighton, Hove and Sussex - It's horrible to think it's happening over again - by Maria Colwell's brother". Archive.theargus.co.uk. http://archive.theargus.co.uk/2000/3/24/194136.html. Retrieved 2009-08-22. 
  16. ^ Lewes, East Sussex District Council, 1975 ISBN 0900348216
  17. ^ Guardian article by Chris Hanvey
  18. ^ "Journal of Family Therapy" Volume 15 Issue 1 Page 57-64, February 1993 Duncan,S; Gray,M;Reder,P Child protection dilemmas in a ‘not-existing’ pattern of abuse
  19. ^ Beckford case
  20. ^ Climbie Colwell link

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