DECADES OF ABUSE
Wife, 65, who bludgeoned abusive husband, 61, to death with hammer sobs as she WINS appeal against murder conviction
Sally Challen was caged for life after admitting battering her partner Richard to death in 2010
A WOMAN who bludgeoned her abusive husband to death with a hammer burst into tears today as her murder conviction was quashed - before she was told she faces a second trial.
Sally Challen, 65, was caged for life after admitting she battered "abusive" partner Richard, 61, to death at their £1m Surrey home in 2010.
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Her murder conviction was struck off - but she will stay in prison as she waits for a retrial.
Challen, who has served seven years of a 22-year minimum sentence, had been portrayed at her first trial as a jealous wife who battered Richard to death because she believed he was having an affair.
Today, her murder conviction was overturned at the Court of Appeal, with the mother expected to face a retrial for manslaughter.
Lady Justice Hallett, sitting with Mr Justice Sweeney and Mrs Justice Cheema-Grubb, said: "The Court of Appeal heard that, in the opinion of a consultant forensic psychiatrist, the appellant was suffering from two mental disorders at the time of the killing.
WILL FACE RETRIAL
"This evidence was not available at the time of the trial and and the court quashed the conviction and ordered a retrial."
Speaking outside court, Mrs Challen's son David, 31, said the verdict gave his mum a "shot at the freedom she has never had since she was 15", when she met her future husband.
He added: "It's an amazing moment. The courts have decided that this case needs to be looked at again, as we have always said [it should be] as a family.
"The abuse our mother suffered was never recognised properly and her mental condition was not taken into account.
"We get another shot at our story to be heard and the events that led to our father's death to be heard and for our mother to have a right shot at freedom.
"A freedom she has never had since the age of 15."
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Challen became visibly emotional a number of times as she watched proceedings over a video link from HMP Bronzefield in Ashford, Surrey.
Her barrister, Clare Wade QC, told the court on Thursday that the evidence was not available at the time of the trial.
A court heard Challen had been dominated by her victim like an abused wife in 'The Archers.'
Son of mum who killed his father with a hammer says his mother was let down by society
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