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!
