A major research project is being launched into the way the justice system treats women who kill abusive men.
Criminal lawyers, both prosecution and defence, are invited to contribute to the study, which is being run by the Centre for Women’s Justice and Justice for Women. They can take part by completing a survey on the topic by 17 June, at: www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/CWJresearch.
Both defence and prosecution solicitors and barristers, whether or not they have acted in murder cases, are invited to complete the questionnaire and pass it on to their colleagues. The researchers are especially keen to interview in more detail lawyers who have acted in cases where a woman has killed their male ex-partner.
The study will involve interviews with legal teams, professionals and women survivors and their families. Its goals include identifying barriers to women obtaining justice, identifying potential reforms, and reporting on the experiences of women on trial. It will also consider whether and what training and guidance should be provided to advocates in this area.
It will explore the experiences of women such as Sally Challen, convicted in 2011 of murdering her estranged husband, Richard, with a hammer. At trial, with no visible signs of injury to show she was a domestic abuse victim, she was depicted as motivated by jealousy and sentenced to 22 years, later reduced to 18 years.
Her claim of diminished responsibility on the basis of 40 years of abusive, humiliating, degrading and controlling behaviour was unsuccessful. Her husband used sexual violence and humiliation to control her, isolated her, and would taunt her with his infidelities and convince her she could not trust her own sanity.
In March, however, Sally and her legal team won the right to appeal her conviction on the grounds of fresh evidence in the form of increased understanding of coercive control.
For more information, contact Nic Mainwood at n.mainwood@centreforwomensjustice.org.uk or phone 07903 912641.
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