Casey-Lyanne Kearney: tabloids go easy on Hannah Bonser
CASEY-Lyanne Kearney was 13 when she was stabbed to death in Doncaster’s Elmfield Park. Hannah Bonser, 26, of Cusworth House, Doncaster, has been charged with her murder and two counts of possession of a knife.
Amid the tributes and tears to the innocent teenager killed with her life ahead of her, there is news on her alleged killer. Bonser was known to local social services agencies.
The Daily Mail writes:
Stab charge woman ‘spent childhood in foster homes’
Bonser’s brother Ben is quoted:
“Everyone knew us as the Mormon family.We went to church every week in our smartest clothes and we were kept away from children who my parents thought were a bad influence. My mum was the light of our lives and when she died, Hannah was traumatised. She had been the one who held us together and encouraged us all to be better people. After she had gone, we fell apart.”
Mr Bonser said their father, Ronald, would “sit in bed all day“, too depressed and sick with grief to contribute.
“When Hannah was 12, we went into care for the first time,’ he said. ‘I still remember the drive to our first foster home. Hannah was clutching a soft toy.Initially, we were in the same homes but then, because of a lack of carers, we were separated. She was upset when I left foster care two years before her because I was older.’”
In 2001, the father died.
The Mail seems sympathetic to all sides of the case.
Over in the Sun, the accused is also profiled:
“CASEY’S QUIET GOTH ‘KILLER’
Bonser is “very quiet” with the look of “a Goth“.
Well, so says an unnamed neighbour in Doncaster.
Bonsor was “sporting dark hair and dark-rimmedglasses. She was said to be ‘addicted’ to computer games’”
Are the press being sympathetic to Bonser? The talk of her being a Goth and addicted to video games is the usual tabloid nonsense, of course.
In court, we are told one piece of information that should place all news agencies on alert: the cout was told that Bosner has had “previous dealings” with Rethink.
Rethink Mental Illness is a charity that believes a better life is possible for millions of people affected by mental illness. Over 40 years ago, one man bravely spoke about his family’s experiences of mental illness in a letter to the Times and in the process brought together hundreds to talk about their experiences of mental illness and support each other. Today we directly support almost 60,000 people every year across England to get through crises, to live independently and to realise they are not alone.
There are no winners in this story. The tabloid press is doing well sticking to the facts. Words like “monster”, “oddball”, “weird” and “evil” have not been used.
Posted: 17th, February 2012 | In: Reviews Comments (3) | TrackBack | Permalink
