Dad Of Gemma Simpson, Who Was Hacked To Death With Hammer Before Legs Sawed Off, Fears Killer May Strike Again Upon Early Prison Release
The father of brutally murdered victim Gemma Simpson, who was hacked to death by 45-year-old Martin Bell before he sawed off her legs and left her dismembered body in a bathtub for four days, fears that he may strike again if he gets an early release from prison, according to the Daily Mirror.
Glenn Simpson, 59, of Leeds, West Yorkshire became furious after learning his daughter’s killer may be eligible for early release from prison. He fears that he may strike again, robbing another family of their loved one. “He was given such a paltry sentence for such a horrific crime and now he even wants that reduced,” he said.
EXCLUSIVE: Family’s fury as body-in-the-bag murderer appeals for halved sentence http://t.co/AeHwD0zWYR pic.twitter.com/CHLgccEKKk
— The Sun (@TheSun) August 13, 2015
“To me it shows he feels no guilt for what he has done. I am appalled he is appealing, this is an insult to the family and to Gemma’s memory. He is adding massively to our family’s pain.”
“It is hard to describe the suffering and torment that my family have been through, not just the 14 years that our Gemma was missing but also the pain of learning of her death and its circumstances,” Glenn continued.
“To see the charge reduced to manslaughter and then a pathetic 12 year sentence handed down outraged us. Now to learn that this could be reduced by half because of ‘human rights’ laws beggars’ belief.”
On May 3, 2000, Gemma vanished without a trace after “catching a bus from Harehills to Leeds city centre,” according to the Yorkshire Evening News. It was discovered 14 years later when Bell turned himself in to the Scarborough police station and confessed to the brutal killing.
After many years of not knowing what happened to Gemma, her family soon discovered that she had been murdered by Bell after meeting up with him at a train station before heading back to his home. Bell told police officials that God told him to kill the woman; therefore, he bludgeoned her to death with a hammer, then tied her up.
He filled his bathtub up with water and placed her body inside for four days. When he made plans to bury her, he tried putting her in the boot of his car but she wouldn’t fit and said he had to saw off her legs. Afterwards he was able to take her to a secluded area and bury her remains.
When Glenn came face-to-face with his daughter’s killer in court, he stated that he had difficulties making eye contact with him, claiming that “He’s playing the game. I just wonder how much its cost in legal aid.”
“I think it was premeditated and he killed my Gemma because she was a tiny little thing who challenged him about his unhealthy interest in very young girls. He said in one of his police interviews he’d attacked her because she said something about the children. That later changed in court to saying it was because of God.”
“I think he’s a psychopath and a very, very dangerous man. If he gets out I would be frightened for other women – particularly young girls, that’s his thing. I know he would do it again and next time maybe to a child,” Glenn added.
Bell was diagnosed with schizophrenia just before Judge Peter Collier sentenced him to a minimum of 12 years in prison for the murder of Gemma Simpson. However, he may be eligible for an early release, which has infuriated Gemma’s father.
“I think he’s a psychopath and a very, very dangerous man. If he gets out I would be frightened for other women – particularly young girls, that’s his thing. I know he would do it again and next time maybe to a child,” Glenn stated.
[Image courtesy of Dustin Gaffke / Flickr / Creative Commons]
