The Case of Sally Challen TV - Justice for Women online -
In 2011 Sally Challen was convicted of murdering her husband Richard. For six years her lawyer has been working to quash her conviction. The Case of Sally Challen, caption, BBC 2019
Such a bizarre act out of the blue. ibid. law dude
Fewer than 10% of those who try to appeal against conviction are successful. ibid. caption
Sally’s defence team claimed she was not guilty of murder, arguing for the lesser charge of manslaughter on the grounds of ‘diminished’ responsibility’. ibid.
There was the issue of the hammer; there was a lot of discussion as to whether Mrs Challen brought the hammer in the house. The offence took place in the kitchen. ibid. legal dude
The jury’s verdict that it was murder was unanimous. ibid. caption
Sally’s legal team have asked Professor Evan Stark, an expert on coercive control, to assist with the case. ibid. caption
Harriet will not be arguing coercive control on its own. She has brought in forensic psychiatrist Gwen Adshead to assess Sally’s mental state. ibid.
27 February 2019 Appeal: Sally’s case is the first time the offence of coercive control will be used as a partial defence to murder: ‘We shall quash that conviction.’ ibid.
After serving eight years and ten months, Sally Challen was released from prison. ibid.
Sally killed Richard in 2010 after years of being controlled and humiliated by him. At the time of her conviction, ‘coercive control’ was not a crime in England and Wales, only becoming recognised in law as a form of domestic abuse in 2015 …
On 27th and 28th February the Court of Appeal heard new evidence and Sally’s conviction was overturned and a retrial ordered. In June 2019, prosecutors accepted Sally’s plea to manslaughter and was sentenced to 14 years. She walked free due to time already served. Justice for Women online article