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Life Sentence: How My Father Defended Two Murderers and Lost Himself
On December 15, 1974, when Amy Bell was one year old, the city of Moncton, New Brunswick, was consumed with the search for two missing police officers—Corporal Aurèle Bourgeois and Constable Michael O’Leary. They had been abducted by petty criminals Richard Ambrose and James Hutchison after a kidnapping that had scored them $15,000. The search would lead to a clearing in the woods where the officers were found—murdered, and buried in shallow graves.
Amy’s father, Ed Bell, stepped up to defend the killers. His unpopular stance—“every person accused of a crime deserves a defence”—eventually led to the ruin of his career and his marriage, and Amy and her brother lived with the aftereffects: poverty and isolation. Ed Bell never spoke of his involvement in this case. It wasn’t until forty-two years later, when he lay dying, that Amy, now a crime historian, stumbled upon a Polaroid photograph of one of the killers among her father’s things. That discovery led her on a search for answers.
Life Sentence: How My Father Defended Two Murderers and Lost Himself is a riveting work that fuses personal and criminal justice history to tell the story of a horrific crime and examine its terrible costs. Includes personal and archival news images.
Amy’s father, Ed Bell, stepped up to defend the killers. His unpopular stance—“every person accused of a crime deserves a defence”—eventually led to the ruin of his career and his marriage, and Amy and her brother lived with the aftereffects: poverty and isolation. Ed Bell never spoke of his involvement in this case. It wasn’t until forty-two years later, when he lay dying, that Amy, now a crime historian, stumbled upon a Polaroid photograph of one of the killers among her father’s things. That discovery led her on a search for answers.
Life Sentence: How My Father Defended Two Murderers and Lost Himself is a riveting work that fuses personal and criminal justice history to tell the story of a horrific crime and examine its terrible costs. Includes personal and archival news images.
- GenresTrue CrimeNonfiction
248 pages, Paperback
Published April 4, 2023
About the author
Amy Bell
3 booksAmy Bell is a Professor of History at Huron University College in London, Ontario. Her academic research focuses on the history of crime and forensics, Britain during the Second World War, and histories of the emotions. In this, her third book, she gives an intensely personal account of her father's role in the trial of two notorious murderers in 1975 Moncton, New Brunswick.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
March 8, 2023
I absolutely love this book. While my threshold for true crime is not nearly as high as other genres, Amy Bell's book is truly exceptional. It is a true crime book about the murder of two Canadian police officers, but also a memoir about how being the defense attorney for the murderers destroyed her father and family.
There are a few things which really drew me into this book. The first is the fact that it is very short. It is less than 200 pages. By itself, this is not necessarily a "good thing" but Amy Bell is a fantastic writer. She does more with her words than most authors and it makes the story hit that much harder. For example, her passage about the funeral of the two officers is short but poignant. While some authors may take pages upon pages to talk about this episode while pushing numerous emotional buttons, Bell makes subtle word choices and sticks to the facts.
Finally, Bell tells her own story about her strained (to put it lightly) relationship with her father and what it has done to her. Just like the rest of the book, she doesn't wallow or editorialize. It makes it that much easier to connect with the fact that she loved her father, but probably didn't like him all that much. It's a great book and you should read it.
(This book was provided as an advance copy by Netgalley and Nimbus Publishing. The full review will be posted to HistoryNerdsUnited.com on 4/13/2023.)
There are a few things which really drew me into this book. The first is the fact that it is very short. It is less than 200 pages. By itself, this is not necessarily a "good thing" but Amy Bell is a fantastic writer. She does more with her words than most authors and it makes the story hit that much harder. For example, her passage about the funeral of the two officers is short but poignant. While some authors may take pages upon pages to talk about this episode while pushing numerous emotional buttons, Bell makes subtle word choices and sticks to the facts.
Finally, Bell tells her own story about her strained (to put it lightly) relationship with her father and what it has done to her. Just like the rest of the book, she doesn't wallow or editorialize. It makes it that much easier to connect with the fact that she loved her father, but probably didn't like him all that much. It's a great book and you should read it.
(This book was provided as an advance copy by Netgalley and Nimbus Publishing. The full review will be posted to HistoryNerdsUnited.com on 4/13/2023.)
September 3, 2024
If you thought ‘CSI’ & ‘Law & Order’ were impressive, wait until you read this!
“Life Sentence: How My Father Defended Two Murderers and Lost Himself” by Amy Bell is a compelling blend of true crime, memoir, courtroom and family drama that will keep you on the edge of your seat every time you turn a page.
This book follows the life and work of Ed Bell, the author’s father, and his infamous defence case of two suspected killers, Richard Ambrose and James Hutchison, accused of the brutal murders of Moncton Police officers Corporal Aurèle Bourgeois and Constable Michael O’Leary. With the case taking place just before Christmas 1974, the families, police and legal parties involved would have tragically had their holidays cut short to try and piece together this now high-profile case.
From mishandled police operations to sketchy witness testimonials and public division to the alarming implication of the previous recent kidnapping of adolescent Raymond Stein, this book keeps you guessing and reflecting with each twist and passage.
It also takes an emotionally hitting stab at the consequences behind closed doors of such a profession, with Amy Bell describing her forever-changed, complicated and severed relationship with her father ever since his case took a turn for the worse, as well as playing with the eternal ethical question of whether or not the death penalty is deserved in a scenario such as this, or for, really, any at all.
I liked this book for its direct and all-encompassing view of criminal law and investigative work. With the professional and well-researched touch of a certified historian and researcher, this book presents each piece of evidence, event, and description in a concise and well-structured manner that is hard to question. Each chapter is sprinkled with new information, and Amy’s occasional questioning and reflection of personal experiences keep the reader engaged consistently. The inclusion of photos and excerpts from newspaper articles, television reports, and the author’s own family also reinstates a sense of hard reality and an even more profound empathy for all involved.
One remark I find very impressive on Amy’s part is that she remains neutral when describing the courtroom proceedings, police involvement, and eventual verdict despite the topic hitting so closely on behalf of her father, family, and herself. It takes a lot of restraint not to impose bias in writing a memoir relating so personally, significantly if it harms reputation in any way (whether on paper or in the social sphere), and I admire her ability to separate fact from ego.
She appropriately balances this objectivity with her own separate, more personal anecdotes and ponderings, such as those from her childhood, parents, and lifestyle, which are occasionally mentioned in between long stretches of transcript and research. This provides well-needed rest from the technicalities of the case and leaves room for more internal questioning, such as: “What would I have done if I were Amy / Ed?”, “Do I think that killers also deserve to be killed?” and “What if it were my family in their shoes?”. All these questions make the experience of reading just that much more meaningful.
Another reason I enjoyed this book was that I related to it in terms of what I want to become in my future profession. Ever since I was younger, I’ve been keen on pursuing law, specifically criminal defense law, and when I first found out about this book, I was quite excited about what was in store. It was an excellent opportunity to dig deeper into the job I wanted!
And yet, while this book did teach me many new things about the profession, it also reaffirmed some of my previous worries about pursuing such a path: the danger, financial and emotional burden, and potentially negatively life-altering the experience can be, especially considering the fact these lawyers deal daily with people accused some of the most “nightmarish crimes” (as the Guardian expressed in their 2014 newspaper representing some of the best-known criminal defense lawyers) imaginable, such as this one.
While I was inspired by Ed Bell’s motivation to protect the underdog concerning their human rights, his father’s words perfectly summarize what I feel now after reading this book:
“To keep our society free and democratic, someone has to do your job, and do it well. […]
I’m just really sorry it’s you.” (Chapter 14, page 178, paragraph 1)
I know now that I may need to consider researching other types of law that are potentially not as emotionally damaging (such as tort, civil, corporate law, etc.) for my sanity (and my family’s peace of mind, too). Still, I will continue to study on criminal law as well. Despite its immense challenges, I find this idealism and moral obligation to defend inspiring, especially after reading these excerpts of trial and dedication. Perhaps I could learn from what Ed and his family have experienced, ensure the same doesn’t happen to me, and improve on that.
This has been eye-opening for me, and I am glad to have read about these overshadowed aspects of the career here before having pursued it.
Overall, I genuinely have no complaints about this book, and I recommend it to anyone interested in learning about criminal law and how the inner workings of a court and investigative case play within their own realm and in society. It’s a masterful tribute to the tireless fighters of the legal system, and it is a piece of literature I will not forget for years to come—and perhaps you won’t either!
5/5 stars.
I recommend this book.
“Life Sentence: How My Father Defended Two Murderers and Lost Himself” by Amy Bell is a compelling blend of true crime, memoir, courtroom and family drama that will keep you on the edge of your seat every time you turn a page.
This book follows the life and work of Ed Bell, the author’s father, and his infamous defence case of two suspected killers, Richard Ambrose and James Hutchison, accused of the brutal murders of Moncton Police officers Corporal Aurèle Bourgeois and Constable Michael O’Leary. With the case taking place just before Christmas 1974, the families, police and legal parties involved would have tragically had their holidays cut short to try and piece together this now high-profile case.
From mishandled police operations to sketchy witness testimonials and public division to the alarming implication of the previous recent kidnapping of adolescent Raymond Stein, this book keeps you guessing and reflecting with each twist and passage.
It also takes an emotionally hitting stab at the consequences behind closed doors of such a profession, with Amy Bell describing her forever-changed, complicated and severed relationship with her father ever since his case took a turn for the worse, as well as playing with the eternal ethical question of whether or not the death penalty is deserved in a scenario such as this, or for, really, any at all.
I liked this book for its direct and all-encompassing view of criminal law and investigative work. With the professional and well-researched touch of a certified historian and researcher, this book presents each piece of evidence, event, and description in a concise and well-structured manner that is hard to question. Each chapter is sprinkled with new information, and Amy’s occasional questioning and reflection of personal experiences keep the reader engaged consistently. The inclusion of photos and excerpts from newspaper articles, television reports, and the author’s own family also reinstates a sense of hard reality and an even more profound empathy for all involved.
One remark I find very impressive on Amy’s part is that she remains neutral when describing the courtroom proceedings, police involvement, and eventual verdict despite the topic hitting so closely on behalf of her father, family, and herself. It takes a lot of restraint not to impose bias in writing a memoir relating so personally, significantly if it harms reputation in any way (whether on paper or in the social sphere), and I admire her ability to separate fact from ego.
She appropriately balances this objectivity with her own separate, more personal anecdotes and ponderings, such as those from her childhood, parents, and lifestyle, which are occasionally mentioned in between long stretches of transcript and research. This provides well-needed rest from the technicalities of the case and leaves room for more internal questioning, such as: “What would I have done if I were Amy / Ed?”, “Do I think that killers also deserve to be killed?” and “What if it were my family in their shoes?”. All these questions make the experience of reading just that much more meaningful.
Another reason I enjoyed this book was that I related to it in terms of what I want to become in my future profession. Ever since I was younger, I’ve been keen on pursuing law, specifically criminal defense law, and when I first found out about this book, I was quite excited about what was in store. It was an excellent opportunity to dig deeper into the job I wanted!
And yet, while this book did teach me many new things about the profession, it also reaffirmed some of my previous worries about pursuing such a path: the danger, financial and emotional burden, and potentially negatively life-altering the experience can be, especially considering the fact these lawyers deal daily with people accused some of the most “nightmarish crimes” (as the Guardian expressed in their 2014 newspaper representing some of the best-known criminal defense lawyers) imaginable, such as this one.
While I was inspired by Ed Bell’s motivation to protect the underdog concerning their human rights, his father’s words perfectly summarize what I feel now after reading this book:
“To keep our society free and democratic, someone has to do your job, and do it well. […]
I’m just really sorry it’s you.” (Chapter 14, page 178, paragraph 1)
I know now that I may need to consider researching other types of law that are potentially not as emotionally damaging (such as tort, civil, corporate law, etc.) for my sanity (and my family’s peace of mind, too). Still, I will continue to study on criminal law as well. Despite its immense challenges, I find this idealism and moral obligation to defend inspiring, especially after reading these excerpts of trial and dedication. Perhaps I could learn from what Ed and his family have experienced, ensure the same doesn’t happen to me, and improve on that.
This has been eye-opening for me, and I am glad to have read about these overshadowed aspects of the career here before having pursued it.
Overall, I genuinely have no complaints about this book, and I recommend it to anyone interested in learning about criminal law and how the inner workings of a court and investigative case play within their own realm and in society. It’s a masterful tribute to the tireless fighters of the legal system, and it is a piece of literature I will not forget for years to come—and perhaps you won’t either!
5/5 stars.
I recommend this book.
November 11, 2023
Many readers of this book will have already heard parts of the story; it’s an infamous case in a small-ish community and most people growing up in Moncton either directly experienced the case or heard about it from an older relative. It’s local legend and lore. This book does cover the timeline and details of the case, but is so much more than a chronological telling of a crime. Amy Bell offers her personal connection to the case, and details how her father’s quality of life declined after he legally represented the killers in court. I gained much empathy for Mr. Bell, and respect his maintained approach that everyone is entitled to a lawyer in Canada. He did not dispute his client’s guilt, but rather demonstrated how the RCMP likely bungled the Stein kidnapping and potentially fuelled the tragic outcome. Bell’s reputation was ruined because of this, but we can clearly see now how he was likely correct. He was making arguments that were too revolutionary for the time. The RCMP (and community at large) would never have acknowledged their wrongdoings in the case at hand, and he was personally muckraked as a result. In 1974, folks were so threatened by the very idea that police were not invincible; they could not possibly grasp that their misdoings could be so dangerous. It was two deranged, violent criminals; no more, no less. This cognitive dissonance was finally undone with the June 2014 shooting in Moncton. It was a lengthy, sensitive case, and ultimately, the RCMP were deemed to have been neglectful in the lead-up and response to the incident. For me, this softens Ed Bell’s stance in hindsight. It is a really insightful book that has a larger message than those who remember the terrible events of December 1974 in Moncton, NB. It demonstrates how law enforcement have never been perfect, and often have severe holes that can cause unraveling when poked by the right criminal. It also conveys the unconditional trust communities used to have in their officers, and how society has gradually begun to ask proper questions & apply appropriate checks to these systems. It’s a satisfying read that’s thought-provoking and challenging. For me, it was extra interesting because of my own connection to the people and places in the story but I think would be an engaging story for readers located elsewhere. 4.5 stars (some skimmable details but otherwise solid).
March 5, 2024
Extremely interesting. I lived (& still do) in this immediate area at the time all of this was happening. Reading this account has opened my eyes to many details I don't believe we were ever privy to at the time - or perhaps I was too involved in getting my career underway. Regardless I do remember the ongoings & the fairly close proximity of some of the events associated.
Small cities like Moncton just weren't supposed to experience such things as kidnapping and vicious murders - yet we did.
There are numerous details revealed in Ms Bell's account that add detail and at times seem to dispute what many of us thought was fact. Will we ever really know?
Forensic science has come a long way since 1974. Prosecution is a much lengthier process in this century. All of our crime tv shows - well, don't believe a lot of it. It's entertaining but . . .
Small cities like Moncton just weren't supposed to experience such things as kidnapping and vicious murders - yet we did.
There are numerous details revealed in Ms Bell's account that add detail and at times seem to dispute what many of us thought was fact. Will we ever really know?
Forensic science has come a long way since 1974. Prosecution is a much lengthier process in this century. All of our crime tv shows - well, don't believe a lot of it. It's entertaining but . . .
April 1, 2023
I received a free copy of, Life Sentence, by Amy Bell, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Amy Bell's father decides to be the defense attorney for two cop killers. Not at enviable task, but he felt called to protect them. In the process of his job he lost himself and his way. Was it worth it, being a defense attorney? Their are no winners in this book, its a sad story really.
February 15, 2024
A terribly sad narrative told with detail and empathy. The police actions are so convoluted and I think maybe needed a different story teller to help a reader make sense of it. An important book about the history of capital punishment in Canada.
March 11, 2023
Synopsis:
***************
On December 15, 1974, when Amy Bell was one year old, the city of Moncton, New Brunswick, was consumed with the search for two missing police officers—Corporal Aurèle Bourgeois and Constable Michael O’Leary. They had been abducted by petty criminals Richard Ambrose and James Hutchison after a kidnapping that had scored them $15,000. The search would lead to a clearing in the woods where the officers were found—murdered and buried in shallow graves.
Amy’s father, Ed Bell, stepped up to defend the killers. His unpopular stance—“every person accused of a crime deserves a defence”—eventually led to the ruin of his career and his marriage, and Amy and her brother lived with the aftereffects: poverty and isolation. Ed Bell never spoke of his involvement in this case. It wasn’t until forty-two years later when he lay dying, that Amy, now a crime historian, stumbled upon a Polaroid photograph of one of the killers among her father’s things. That discovery led her to search for answers.
"Life Sentence: How My Father Defended Two Murderers and Lost Himself" is a riveting work that fuses personal and criminal justice history to tell the story of a horrific crime and examine its terrible costs. Includes personal and archival news images.
I have a husband who is a law and justice addict and we have discussed many a time how scummy criminals get great lawyers and why do they deserve great lawyers???? I don't think that everyone deserves a great defence because who pays for it? Legal aid through our taxes. Why keep these miscreants out of prison? (He thinks everyone deserves a top-notch defence despite not having a dime to their name...I wonder how the lawyers can do it with a clear conscience???)
This book shows how much of a toll being forced to represent criminals can take. Unlike the USA where is usually rich and famou$$$$ lawyer$$$$ who take cases like these on (and who get paid handsomely for it) in Canada, it is very complicated about who is covered and why and by whom: that is a whole megillah of information on its own that I will not go into.
Her father volunteered to help those accused because of his belief of everyone needed a fair defence and its price was high and awful for him and his family. Ed Bell never spoke of his involvement but Amy has done so with this wonderfully written book. It is not a casual read but it is an excellent read on how the law works in Canada and the price paid by someone just wanting to help.
Highly recommended to individual readers and book clubs.
***************
On December 15, 1974, when Amy Bell was one year old, the city of Moncton, New Brunswick, was consumed with the search for two missing police officers—Corporal Aurèle Bourgeois and Constable Michael O’Leary. They had been abducted by petty criminals Richard Ambrose and James Hutchison after a kidnapping that had scored them $15,000. The search would lead to a clearing in the woods where the officers were found—murdered and buried in shallow graves.
Amy’s father, Ed Bell, stepped up to defend the killers. His unpopular stance—“every person accused of a crime deserves a defence”—eventually led to the ruin of his career and his marriage, and Amy and her brother lived with the aftereffects: poverty and isolation. Ed Bell never spoke of his involvement in this case. It wasn’t until forty-two years later when he lay dying, that Amy, now a crime historian, stumbled upon a Polaroid photograph of one of the killers among her father’s things. That discovery led her to search for answers.
"Life Sentence: How My Father Defended Two Murderers and Lost Himself" is a riveting work that fuses personal and criminal justice history to tell the story of a horrific crime and examine its terrible costs. Includes personal and archival news images.
I have a husband who is a law and justice addict and we have discussed many a time how scummy criminals get great lawyers and why do they deserve great lawyers???? I don't think that everyone deserves a great defence because who pays for it? Legal aid through our taxes. Why keep these miscreants out of prison? (He thinks everyone deserves a top-notch defence despite not having a dime to their name...I wonder how the lawyers can do it with a clear conscience???)
This book shows how much of a toll being forced to represent criminals can take. Unlike the USA where is usually rich and famou$$$$ lawyer$$$$ who take cases like these on (and who get paid handsomely for it) in Canada, it is very complicated about who is covered and why and by whom: that is a whole megillah of information on its own that I will not go into.
Her father volunteered to help those accused because of his belief of everyone needed a fair defence and its price was high and awful for him and his family. Ed Bell never spoke of his involvement but Amy has done so with this wonderfully written book. It is not a casual read but it is an excellent read on how the law works in Canada and the price paid by someone just wanting to help.
Highly recommended to individual readers and book clubs.
March 30, 2023
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC [I'm late in posting the review].
Part true crime, part local history, and part memoir. The result is a fantastic book.
Amy Bell made her subtitle the mission statement. Her father, Ed, was the defence attorney for two men who kidnapped and murdered two police officers. Through her prose, we see the post-trial man who raised her, the tics and photographs that made her ask questions, and the research that made her understand the trauma of a community.
Because of her direct connection to the material, I immediately liked this more than most true crime books I’ve read. There is never a page where the reader is allowed to forget that everyone involved is a human being. It is a compelling, thought-provoking, and often difficult read. Even when the guilty party is known, closure eludes us.
How was it possible for this to happen in the first place? Were the headlines and stories that came out at the time ethical? Did the cops have the right to do what they did before the trial started? Were there unfair elements of the trial? All this, of course, ignores the big topic of how the leering spectre of capital punishment hung over all involved.
The crime, investigation, and trial form the centre of the book, but they are not the “main point”. Every page has the weight of Amy Bell trying to answer the question: “why was my dad the way he was?”
She found her answer.
Part true crime, part local history, and part memoir. The result is a fantastic book.
Amy Bell made her subtitle the mission statement. Her father, Ed, was the defence attorney for two men who kidnapped and murdered two police officers. Through her prose, we see the post-trial man who raised her, the tics and photographs that made her ask questions, and the research that made her understand the trauma of a community.
Because of her direct connection to the material, I immediately liked this more than most true crime books I’ve read. There is never a page where the reader is allowed to forget that everyone involved is a human being. It is a compelling, thought-provoking, and often difficult read. Even when the guilty party is known, closure eludes us.
How was it possible for this to happen in the first place? Were the headlines and stories that came out at the time ethical? Did the cops have the right to do what they did before the trial started? Were there unfair elements of the trial? All this, of course, ignores the big topic of how the leering spectre of capital punishment hung over all involved.
The crime, investigation, and trial form the centre of the book, but they are not the “main point”. Every page has the weight of Amy Bell trying to answer the question: “why was my dad the way he was?”
She found her answer.
October 15, 2023
This is the history of a dark event in Moncton as well as other high profile crime occurrences across Canada. Given that the author was not aware of the court case which destroyed her father's life until just prior to his death, it demonstrates the value of Archives which record history. Well researched and well written, detailing the court room dialogue which occurred. An excellent read.
April 4, 2023
I was kindly sent this ARC by NetGalley and I am extremely lucky for that
this is my favourite true crime so far this year, Such an interesting story and tragic for the Canadian Mounted Police. Couldnt put it down and had to finish it
this is my favourite true crime so far this year, Such an interesting story and tragic for the Canadian Mounted Police. Couldnt put it down and had to finish it
March 25, 2023
Thanks to NetGalley and Nimbus books for this fascinating, thought-provoking ARC. Amy Bell is a crime historian, as shown in her extensive research and writing. Although a short book, it is not an easy read. There are several main issues addressed.
It chronicles a shocking crime that took place in Moncton, NB., in 1974 when Amy was only one year old. I remember the time vividly because I had just moved to Moncton before the terrible events. The son of the owner of the great seafood restaurant, Cy's, on the main street had just been kidnapped, and a ransom was demanded. During the ransom drop and the search for the young man who had been abducted, two police officers disappeared. The boy was returned without harm. Two petty criminals, R. Ambrose and J. Hutchison, were found with $15,000 in marked ransom money. A broad and comprehensive search went out for the two missing police officers. Their bodies were found in shallow graves in a wooded area with evidence that Ambrose and Hutchison had abducted and murdered them. The dreadful ordeal of the search and discovery is deeply lodged in my mind.
Amy was just a toddler when this occurred. Her father defended the accused criminals. They were found guilty and received the death penalty. An appeal was lost, but later the death penalty was abolished in Canada, and they were to be imprisoned for life. Amy's father emerged from the trial as a shattered man, having lost the case, his career and his marriage. He never spoke about the trial afterwards. Amy and her brother grew up in poverty and isolation. Their home was now a trailer that became increasingly cluttered by her depressed, bitter, withdrawn father.
When her father was dying forty-two years later, Amy found a photo of Ambrose among his belongings. This sent her searching for answers about the crime and her father's role as the defence attorney.
She gives her thoughts on why an attorney would defend publicly hated, murderous clients and describes how many had their lives changed after their clients received the death penalty or life sentence. She writes that a defence lawyer must be zealous advocates for their clients, loyal, detached and non-judgemental about their client's moral character or potential guilt. As an officer of the court, the defence lawyer is required to cooperate and help administer justice. This conflicting role leads to much pressure and strain on the defence. Amy suggests that defence lawyers tend to empathize with their clients and view their convictions as failures on their part. The belief is that " Every person accused of a crime deserves a defence." Their taking a defence role often leads to public outrage when the public does not feel the criminals deserve it, and it wastes taxpayers' money.
The book takes through the details of the court trial and the police investigation leading to the kidnapping and murder of the two police officers. New facts are revealed that were not fully reported by the Canadian press.
The traumatizing event of 1974 still lingered in people's minds. It was thought nothing like it would ever happen in this small city again. In 2014, J. Bourque was seen walking around a trailer park in northwest Moncton carrying a rifle and handgun while dressed in camouflage. He walked away from the park, and the RCMP was called. This was the same trailer park where I lived when I first moved to Moncton. The area was put in lockdown. RCMP officers were ambushed. Three were shot to death, and two more were injured. Bourque was sentenced to 75 years in prison, 25 years for each murdered Mountie. Recently this was overturned, and he can apply for parole after 25 years. Many members of the public are incensed by this ruling.
An interesting and well-documented look at the Canadian justice system that leads you through the trial and Amy's father's part in it. She includes pictures of her early family life and photos of newspaper pages from 1974 and pictures of the criminals. I think she came away with a better understanding of her estranged father and the effects on her own personality.
It chronicles a shocking crime that took place in Moncton, NB., in 1974 when Amy was only one year old. I remember the time vividly because I had just moved to Moncton before the terrible events. The son of the owner of the great seafood restaurant, Cy's, on the main street had just been kidnapped, and a ransom was demanded. During the ransom drop and the search for the young man who had been abducted, two police officers disappeared. The boy was returned without harm. Two petty criminals, R. Ambrose and J. Hutchison, were found with $15,000 in marked ransom money. A broad and comprehensive search went out for the two missing police officers. Their bodies were found in shallow graves in a wooded area with evidence that Ambrose and Hutchison had abducted and murdered them. The dreadful ordeal of the search and discovery is deeply lodged in my mind.
Amy was just a toddler when this occurred. Her father defended the accused criminals. They were found guilty and received the death penalty. An appeal was lost, but later the death penalty was abolished in Canada, and they were to be imprisoned for life. Amy's father emerged from the trial as a shattered man, having lost the case, his career and his marriage. He never spoke about the trial afterwards. Amy and her brother grew up in poverty and isolation. Their home was now a trailer that became increasingly cluttered by her depressed, bitter, withdrawn father.
When her father was dying forty-two years later, Amy found a photo of Ambrose among his belongings. This sent her searching for answers about the crime and her father's role as the defence attorney.
She gives her thoughts on why an attorney would defend publicly hated, murderous clients and describes how many had their lives changed after their clients received the death penalty or life sentence. She writes that a defence lawyer must be zealous advocates for their clients, loyal, detached and non-judgemental about their client's moral character or potential guilt. As an officer of the court, the defence lawyer is required to cooperate and help administer justice. This conflicting role leads to much pressure and strain on the defence. Amy suggests that defence lawyers tend to empathize with their clients and view their convictions as failures on their part. The belief is that " Every person accused of a crime deserves a defence." Their taking a defence role often leads to public outrage when the public does not feel the criminals deserve it, and it wastes taxpayers' money.
The book takes through the details of the court trial and the police investigation leading to the kidnapping and murder of the two police officers. New facts are revealed that were not fully reported by the Canadian press.
The traumatizing event of 1974 still lingered in people's minds. It was thought nothing like it would ever happen in this small city again. In 2014, J. Bourque was seen walking around a trailer park in northwest Moncton carrying a rifle and handgun while dressed in camouflage. He walked away from the park, and the RCMP was called. This was the same trailer park where I lived when I first moved to Moncton. The area was put in lockdown. RCMP officers were ambushed. Three were shot to death, and two more were injured. Bourque was sentenced to 75 years in prison, 25 years for each murdered Mountie. Recently this was overturned, and he can apply for parole after 25 years. Many members of the public are incensed by this ruling.
An interesting and well-documented look at the Canadian justice system that leads you through the trial and Amy's father's part in it. She includes pictures of her early family life and photos of newspaper pages from 1974 and pictures of the criminals. I think she came away with a better understanding of her estranged father and the effects on her own personality.
April 3, 2023
The best part about this book are the first two chapters which are personal and engrossing, full of palpable emotions and completely captivating. They paint an early picture of Ed Bell and give teasers about what is to come. If the book continued on this path and further showed how deeply Ed Bell was affected by becoming the defense lawyer on this case, it could have been so good.
Sadly, after these early chapters the remainder of the book is a drastic departure from the early approach. The book becomes a compilation of material that has been previously published elsewhere: detailed recount of historical events, court transcripts, descriptions of incompetence of the police investigation, whole sections of textbook paragraphs are included explaining concep like 'forensic evidence' and the principles behind the existence of defense lawyers. As much as the early chapters are personal, the rest of the book is textbook dry.
By her own admission Amy Bell's relationship with her father was pretty much non existent. They were not close, rarely saw each other and Ed never confined in her daughter or shared any introspective thought about his role as a defense lawyer in the murder case of two police officers. When this becomes clear one question remains, what new or different can this book bring. The answer is nothing. Amy Bell herself does not offer any insight, nor even speculations, as to her father's demise beyond a single sentence where she merely implies that her father was looking for fame and fortune when he took on the case and when he lost it he completely withdrew from life. The book does not paint the picture of Ed before or during the developments of 1974 so truthfully it is quite impossible to say how his withdrawal from life started and why. Or how the involvement with case affected, if at all, his life afterwards. All that is clear is that a largely inexperienced and unqualified lawyer took on a defense case for potentially wrong reasons.
I have read about this murder case elsewhere and can honestly say that the way the events are being described in "Life Sentence" is very confusing. The author constantly interrupts the recounts of hard facts with her own personal speculations. The line of thought often loses focus and ventures into history of the geographical area or a particular person's career path going way back in time for no particular reason. There is even a poem being included in the middle of a detailed recount of finding the bodies of the slayed police officers.
"Life Sentence" doesn't even try to touch on the issue hinted at in its title. It is filled with recounts of chronological events, names, and generally information you can read about elsewhere in less than 200 pages. Ed Bell does not play a central role in this story, the way the title suggests. If like me you thought the book was about him and how his life was affected by his career choices, you will be disappointed.
*access to ARC given via NetGalley
Sadly, after these early chapters the remainder of the book is a drastic departure from the early approach. The book becomes a compilation of material that has been previously published elsewhere: detailed recount of historical events, court transcripts, descriptions of incompetence of the police investigation, whole sections of textbook paragraphs are included explaining concep like 'forensic evidence' and the principles behind the existence of defense lawyers. As much as the early chapters are personal, the rest of the book is textbook dry.
By her own admission Amy Bell's relationship with her father was pretty much non existent. They were not close, rarely saw each other and Ed never confined in her daughter or shared any introspective thought about his role as a defense lawyer in the murder case of two police officers. When this becomes clear one question remains, what new or different can this book bring. The answer is nothing. Amy Bell herself does not offer any insight, nor even speculations, as to her father's demise beyond a single sentence where she merely implies that her father was looking for fame and fortune when he took on the case and when he lost it he completely withdrew from life. The book does not paint the picture of Ed before or during the developments of 1974 so truthfully it is quite impossible to say how his withdrawal from life started and why. Or how the involvement with case affected, if at all, his life afterwards. All that is clear is that a largely inexperienced and unqualified lawyer took on a defense case for potentially wrong reasons.
I have read about this murder case elsewhere and can honestly say that the way the events are being described in "Life Sentence" is very confusing. The author constantly interrupts the recounts of hard facts with her own personal speculations. The line of thought often loses focus and ventures into history of the geographical area or a particular person's career path going way back in time for no particular reason. There is even a poem being included in the middle of a detailed recount of finding the bodies of the slayed police officers.
"Life Sentence" doesn't even try to touch on the issue hinted at in its title. It is filled with recounts of chronological events, names, and generally information you can read about elsewhere in less than 200 pages. Ed Bell does not play a central role in this story, the way the title suggests. If like me you thought the book was about him and how his life was affected by his career choices, you will be disappointed.
*access to ARC given via NetGalley
March 29, 2024
It seems so many of the books I have read lately are over 300+ pages and it can be quite challenging to read lengthy books at times. This book is a very doable 178 pages that I was able to finish in just two days. It is based on the true story of author, Amy Bell’s father, Ed Bell, a lawyer who defended two criminals accused of kidnapping and murdering two RCMP officers in Moncton, NB, in 1974. I live in Nova Scotia so always interesting to read about stories that take place in the Maritime Provinces. I would have been 23 at the time of this crime and do not have any recollection of it. Amy’s life and that of her father and family were forever changed as a result of him taking on this legal aid case. He felt it was his mission in life to help those who were the underdogs of society. He took on the case with the best of intentions but he shared with his daughter near the end of his life that he wished he had not as it ended his career and his marriage. Amy and her brother lived with their mother until she died of cancer a few years later. Then they lived in a trailer with their father and and existed in poverty and isolation. Their father had basically withdrawn from society and became a hoarder with his home soon becoming run down and derelict. This condition is often associated with a loss or traumatic event in someone’s life. Bell does a good job of describing her father, his passions in life and what lead to his downfall. The court case is rather drawn out as they often are. Amy was forever affected by the change in her father and the loss of her mother and brother later on.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 18, 2023
Life Sentence: How My Father Defended Two Murderers and Lost Himself, by Amy Bell, is a true crime story that highlights the peripheral damage done in the justice system, namely families of those involved in the court case.
Told by the daughter of the defense attorney, this book covers the crime and trial but through the lens of what came after. And what came after includes divorce, poverty, and disengagement from the world for the attorney and a broken, distant father/husband for his family.
If you're coming to this as your typical true crime story, you will either be disappointed or quite pleased. This isn't just about the crime and the trial, not really. It is about those things in light of the type of justice system in Canada, the public response to an attorney doing his (albeit unpopular) job, and the results of all this on one family in particular, the attorney's.
As a true crime book, I found it engaging and enjoyed it. But it was as a memoirish critique of the justice system and the public's response where it shined. The reader sees the trial and investigation through the eyes of the defense attorney, yet also through the eyes of his daughter. Time can't mend all of the lost lives, the officers murdered and their families, as well as a childhood lost to a father's depression and poverty and a promising legal career left in tatters. The prosecutors may have won the case but there are no winners in this story.
Reviewed from a copy made available by the publisher via NetGalley.
Told by the daughter of the defense attorney, this book covers the crime and trial but through the lens of what came after. And what came after includes divorce, poverty, and disengagement from the world for the attorney and a broken, distant father/husband for his family.
If you're coming to this as your typical true crime story, you will either be disappointed or quite pleased. This isn't just about the crime and the trial, not really. It is about those things in light of the type of justice system in Canada, the public response to an attorney doing his (albeit unpopular) job, and the results of all this on one family in particular, the attorney's.
As a true crime book, I found it engaging and enjoyed it. But it was as a memoirish critique of the justice system and the public's response where it shined. The reader sees the trial and investigation through the eyes of the defense attorney, yet also through the eyes of his daughter. Time can't mend all of the lost lives, the officers murdered and their families, as well as a childhood lost to a father's depression and poverty and a promising legal career left in tatters. The prosecutors may have won the case but there are no winners in this story.
Reviewed from a copy made available by the publisher via NetGalley.
March 10, 2023
A sad but enlightening story about the author’s lawyer father and a case he took on that tore him apart. It affected the whole family by the time it was done, and their lives were forever changed. It took place in Canada in the 70s. Well researched and written, much background is given on things of that era and location.
July 9, 2023
Unbelievable true story in a community I lived in. My Dad’s picture is in the book. I was young, 9, when this all happened. I always remembered the names of the accused and convicted. However, I had no idea about how it all happened, the trial and the sentences…and the profound impact it had on so many people.
September 2, 2024
Interesting view of a case I didn't know anything about in the Moncton area!
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