The sons of Sally Challen, a Claygate mother who was jailed for murder after she killed her husband Richard at the marital home in 2010, are hoping to overturn her conviction in a landmark case. After years of being controlled and humiliated by her husband, Sally took a hammer to Richard as he ate his breakfast, before driving to Beachy Head intending to kill herself. 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. Justice for Women submitted new grounds of appeal and the case was heard on February 27 and 28. Her conviction was quashed and a retrial was ordered.
“This evidence was not available at the time of the trial and the court quashed the conviction and ordered a retrial.” - Lady Justice Hallett
David, her son says, “She has been manipulated psychologically all her life, tied down by this man, my father. She deserves her right to freedom. She deserves for her abuse to be recognised.”
She has so far served eight years of her sentence.
For information go to justiceforwomen.org.uk/sally-challen-appeal/ #FreeSallyChallen
