Yahoo News Sally Challen to walk free from prison after being granted bail ahead of retrial over husband's hammer attack murder
A woman who killed her husband in a hammer attack is to walk free from prison after almost a decade behind bars ahead of a new trial into his death.
Georgina Challen, known as Sally, said she killed 61-year-old husband Richard in August 2010 after years of being controlled and humiliated by him.
The 65-year-old was previously found guilty of murder and jailed for life, but later won a landmark appeal against her conviction after judges said its safety was undermined by evidence from a psychiatrist who said Challen was suffering from two mental disorders at the time of the killing.
Challen, of Claygate, Surrey, will now stand trial again and pleaded guilty to manslaughter on Friday, but not guilty to murder.
At the same hearing at the Old Bailey, Challen was granted conditional bail ahead of her retrial in July.
Appearing via videolink from HMP Bronzefield in Ashford, Surrey, Challen wiped away tears as she was told she will be able to walk free from noon on Saturday.
Speaking outside court, her son David Challen said: “Today we are overjoyed that bail has been granted for our mother and she will be now released back to us. Our mother now rejoins our family.”
Asked what it will be like when she walks out of prison, he said: “It’s a massive moment.”
He added: “It’s a happy day for us, we get to see her again.”
Mr Challen, who said he had not yet spoken to his mother following the hearing, said the family are looking forward to “being together again after so long”.
During the hearing, Mr Justice Edis confirmed the trial would be transferred to the Old Bailey as he set a timetable for the case.
He set a further hearing for June 7, with a trial to take place on July 1 “if necessary”.
