Family 'terrified' killer may move to open prison

Gemma Simpson was described as "witty, funny, loving and very family-oriented" by her family

The sisters of a Leeds woman who was beaten to death by a man with a psychotic illness have said they are "terrified" he now may be moved to an open prison.

Martin Bell attacked Gemma Simpson, 23, with a hammer at his Harrogate flat in 2000, before hiding her body at Brimham Rocks - a location he kept secret for 14 years.

The Parole Board has recommended Bell, 55, who admitted manslaughter by diminished responsibility in 2014, be moved to open conditions having spent 11 years in prison.

A Parole Board spokesperson said the move was a "recommendation only" and the Secretary of State for Justice would consider the advice before making a final decision.

Ms Simpson's sisters, Krista Simpson and Naomi Carrack, said: "We feel she is not getting justice or even considered - his feelings and rights seem more important than Gemma's or ours."

Bell was handed a life sentence at Leeds Crown Court with a minimum term of 12 years.

Ms Simpson and Ms Carrack believe the recommendation to move him from a category C prison to the least secure category is a prelude to him being released next year.

They said the parole hearing had been held "far too early" and questioned if the decision was "motivated by prison capacity decisions rather than actually getting justice".

They added: "We are terrified for ourselves and others. What reassurances can we be given that he won't re-offend?"

Martin Bell was diagnosed with a psychotic illness similar to schizophrenia after his arrest

After handing himself in in 2014, Bell made the family wait a further four months before revealing where he had hidden Ms Simpson's body, her sisters said.

"He kept our family prisoner for 14 years before his horrific and brutal murder of our beautiful Gemma was revealed," Ms Simpson and Ms Carrack said.

They said they wanted him to serve his full sentence in a maximum-security prison.

On Thursday, the Parole Board said the decision was made after "considering the circumstances of his offending" and "the progress made while in custody".

The board's decision summary said: "The panel accepted that Mr Bell understands the nature and gravity of his offending, that he is remorseful and that he has undertaken substantive behaviour interventions during his sentence."

Naomi Carrack (left) and Krista Simpson (right) believe it would be dangerous to move Bell to an open prison

Bell had read a victim impact statement and "realised the terrible effects of his offending upon the family of the victim", it added.

The summary said there was no significant concern about his behaviour and no evidence to suggest he would abscond.

Bell becomes eligible to be considered for release in July 2026.

In a separate statement, a Parole Board spokesperson said it would only "make a recommendation for open conditions if a Parole Board panel is satisfied that the risk to the public has reduced sufficiently to be manageable in an open prison."

They added: "A move to open conditions involves testing the prisoner's readiness for any potential return into the community in future.

"Prisoners moved to open conditions can be returned to closed conditions if there is concern about their behaviour."

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