Sally Challen killed her controlling husband, Richard in 2010 and was convicted of murder and sentenced to life in prison. At the time of her conviction, controlling and coercive behaviour was not a crime in England and Wales, only being recognised legally as a form of domestic abuse since 2015. This gripping BBC2 documentary follows Sally’s son David Challen and Sally’s solicitor and director of CWJ Harriet Wistrich as they work on Sally’s appeal, backed by campaign group Justice for Women.
Sally walked free in June 2019 following her conviction being quashed and prosecutors accepting a manslaughter plea. This landmark case raised awareness of domestic abuse in all its forms, attracting huge amounts of media coverage and public support. The success of this appeal exemplifies how collaboration between legal professionals, feminist campaigners, women’s sector organisations and journalists can inform society and challenge injustice.
Watch The Case of Sally Challen on BBC iPlayer.
You can also read the Guardian review here.