Sally Challen killed her husband, Richard, with a hammer in 2010. She was convicted of murder and given a life sentence but on appeal the conviction was replaced with one for manslaughter. A psychiatric report had concluded Challen was suffering from an ‘adjustment disorder’. The judge, Mr Justice Edis, said the killing came after ‘years of controlling, isolating and humiliating conduct’ with the added provocation of her husband’s ‘serial multiple infidelity’.
So far, so normal. Since 2010 when the law on murder was reframed so that the defence of provocation was replaced with a new defence of ‘loss of control’ caused in response to ‘words or conduct which caused the defendant to have a justifiable sense of being seriously wronged’, the law on murder has been more favourable to the likes of Challen and downtrodden women generally.
Comments
Join the debate for just $5 for 3 months
Be part of the conversation with other Spectator readers by getting your first three months for $5.
UNLOCK ACCESS Just $5 for 3 monthsAlready a subscriber? Log in