Abuse victim who killed husband freed

Abuse victim who killed husband freed

A woman who killed her husband with a hammer after suffering years of domestic abuse has been freed prosecutors said on Friday, a decision women's rights groups hailed as a "landmark moment".

Sally Challen, 65, had her conviction for murder overturned in February after an appeal found the trial had not factored in the effect of decades of abuse on her mental health.

She was to have faced a retrial, but prosecutors agreed to instead accept a guilty plea to the lesser charge of manslaughter.

"As a family we are overjoyed at today's verdict and that it has brought an end to the suffering we have endured together for the past 9 years," said her son David in a tweet.

"Our story has become the landmark case society needs to recognise the true severity of coercive control."

Britain introduced laws in 2015 making "coercive or controlling behaviour" a domestic violence offence carrying a penalty of up to five years in jail.

Published: by Radio NewsHub
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