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24
Oct
Victim's family speaks out after Harrogate killer's prison release denied
Warning: this article contains details some readers may find distressing.
After the man who killed Gemma Simpson was denied prison release this month, we spoke to the victim’s sister about her response to the news.
Krista Simpson, Gemma’s younger sister, said although the decision finally “felt like a win”, the report that accompanied the decision left questions unanswered – and raised some concerns.
Martin Bell, who fatally attacked Gemma Simpson at his Harrogate flat in May 2000, was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 12 years in December 2014.
He became eligible for release in July 2026, as some of his sentence was deducted from the time spent in custody, but the Parole Board said in a statement that after considering the circumstances of Bell's offending, his progress made in custody and the evidence presented at the hearing, a panel was not satisfied that his release would be safe for the protection of the public.
Bell brutally attacked Ms Simpson, hitting her with a hammer, stabbing her repeatedly then drowning her in a bath.
After burying Ms Simpson’s dismembered remains at Brimham Rocks in Nidderdale, Bell returned to the site on numerous occasions in the years following to check they had not been disturbed.
The case went unsolved for 14 years, until Bell walked into Scarborough Police Station and confessed.
Martin Bell
He was jailed for manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility, as he had been suffering from a mental illness.
He had spent around nine months in hospital under the Mental Health Act and had been discharged about six weeks before the killing.
Krista expressed concerns that someone with mental health issues that led to such a brutal killing would be allowed release – especially as before the death of her sister, Bell had already committed offences.
She said:
It was drugs that made him kill her – once he’s out will he still abstain? People were meant to be checking on him [at the time of the killing], but one person did a house visit when Gemma’s body was still in his house, in the bath. He didn’t let them in, so they didn’t know.
If we [society] can’t cope with mental health issues in the community at the moment, how are we going to manage those released from prison with mental health issues?
'That report makes it sound like something isn’t right'
Gemma’s family have worked closely with the Hundred Families, a charity supporting families bereaved by murders committed by those with mental illness, to raise awareness of the issue.
The family are concerned about the contents of the ‘vague’ report that was released alongside the decision not to release Bell.
Krista highlighted the fact that the report said “Bell’s progression had been cautious and incremental”, and she’s concerned things had happened when he was on day release they’re not aware of.
She said:
People [professionals involved in the case] don’t recommend it, so something can’t be right. It doesn’t make us feel easy, that report makes it sound like something isn’t right.
His privacy is more important than us. It makes us worried for other people. We just want to make Gemma’s life worth something.
Gemma Simpson. Credit: West Yorkshire Police
The professionals involved in the case indicated they would expect a year of testing to take place prior to considering recommending Bell’s release on life licence.
Bell can’t go within 400 miles of Gemma’s family, meaning that he will have to remain in the southern area of England for the rest of his life – despite the fact that, according to Krista, his family live in the Yorkshire area.
Still, Krista is remarkably positive, stating that the decision “felt like a win” after Bell repeatedly “getting his way” and the family always being made to feel like “Gemma doesn’t matter”.
She said:
We argued in court for three days over him getting the manslaughter charge. It was already hard to get over the fact he was only jailed for 18 years – then you take off the third [for his guilty plea] so it’s actually 12 years. It’s gone by so quickly, it doesn’t even feel like a minute.
Open prison
As well as having a manslaughter rather than murder charge brought against him, Bell also battled for release to open prison – eventually turning over the Secretary of State’s decision not to move him.
He was transferred in January 2026 and commenced periods of temporary day release in May. He has yet to have any overnight periods of release.
Krista previously told the Stray Ferret:
We were in prison for 14 years – he held Gemma prisoner for 14 years. There has never been justice for Gemma.
It’s so scary, we’re scared another family could go through this and suffer at the hands of him.
We’ve never seen a single psychiatric report – we don’t even know what prison he’s in. How do we know he would be monitored? There’s such a lack information for victims’ families.
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