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Polina and Julieta Parker and HalmManiacs
Country:
 New Zealand |
Content:
Tragic Passion
Sigmund Freud believed that the "unconscious" ("it") plays a decisive role in mental processes, referring to the complex of innate instincts and desires. He considered two instincts to be fundamental: the sexual instinct (love) and the instinct of destruction, aggression (death). Asserting that these instincts determine all behavior of an individual, Freud emphasized that the "unconscious" is not connected to the external world and does not follow any regularities. "It" is amoral and only manifests itself in the pursuit of pleasure. Consciousness ("ego") is the part of the "unconscious" that has been modified by the external world but still remains largely influenced by the "unconscious". Thus, using Freud's expression, consciousness "is not even the master in its own house". Between the "unconscious" and the "consciousness", according to Freud, lies the intermediate layer - the "subconscious", which serves to protect the "consciousness" from the unwanted instincts (censorship function).
The Murderous Passion
Perhaps this theory can explain the tragedy that occurred in June 1954 in the New Zealand city of Christchurch: there, driven by a twisted passion, lesbian friends killed one of their mothers, who was obstructing their relationship. The friends staged it to look like an accident. The body of Mrs. Parker - the mother of sixteen-year-old Polina - was found in the park lying in a pool of blood with a disfigured face. Polina and her friend Juliette, who called the police to the scene, claimed that their mother slipped and fell, hitting her head hard. But how can we explain the origin of the 49 wounds on the deceased woman's head? The girls could not answer this question.
During the crime scene investigation, a brick wrapped in an old bloodstained stocking with strands of a woman's hair was found a few steps from the path where Mrs. Parker was walking. This proved that Mrs. Parker's death was not accidental. Suspicion fell on Polina Parker and Juliette Halm, who were soon arrested and brought to trial. Mrs. Parker's daughter confessed to killing her mother, denying her friend's involvement and attempting to take all the blame upon herself. Recognizing Polina's nobility, Juliette Halm confessed how it all happened: "I took a stone, wrapped it in a stocking, and hit her. I was scared. I wanted to help Polina. It was horrible - Polina's mother was convulsing. We both held her. Finally, she calmed down, and then we left her. After the first hit, I knew we needed to kill her."
This was the tragic conclusion of the twisted relationship that existed between the girls recently. The crime was driven by their fatal partnership. At first, the girls were just friends, but over time, their friendship turned into mutual attraction, and they started sleeping together and engaging in sexual activities. "We imagined ourselves as saints making love in bed. We engaged in it without feeling tired. It felt wonderful to feel satisfied!" they confessed in court. Naturally, when Mrs. Parker learned about her daughter's relationship with Juliette, she was shocked and tried every possible way to end it. She met with Juliette's father, Dr. Halm, who became her ally in this fight, and after discussing the situation, they decided to leave Christchurch, taking her daughter with her to separate her from Polina.
Upon learning about the imminent separation, the friends decided to seek revenge and kill Mrs. Parker. On the day of the crime, Polina made the following entry: "I am writing early in the morning before the event. Last night, I was very excited, just like on Christmas Eve. Although I didn't have pleasant dreams."
During the trial, there was speculation about the abnormal mental state of the defendants. One of the medical experts, Dr. Medlicott, claimed that each of the accused "is as fragile as a child who is just learning to walk," and that the ancestors of both girls were predisposed to illness, leading to imbalance and ultimately mental disorders in the young criminals.
Dr. Charles Bennett made a different conclusion: "I find that both criminals undoubtedly fully realize what they have done. But I highly doubt that these juvenile delinquents attach any importance to society's opinion of them."
After careful consideration of the case, the verdict was guilty. However, after four years and numerous psychiatric and medical examinations, the criminals were released. They continued to be friends, although the flame of their past relationship had faded during the separation.
