Woman to launch bid for bail in ‘coercive control’ murder case

A woman who killed her husband in a hammer attack will launch a bid to be released on bail after her murder conviction was quashed.

Georgina Challen, known as Sally, says she killed 61-year-old Richard Challen in August 2010 after 40 years of being controlled and humiliated by him.

She was jailed for life for the murder of the former car dealer following a trial at Guildford Crown Court in 2011.

But her conviction was quashed and a retrial ordered at the Court of Appeal in London in February, in light of new evidence which was not available at the time of her first trial.

During a two-day hearing, the court heard evidence relating to Challen’s state of mind at the time of the killing and the issue of “coercive control”.

Challen, 65, of Claygate, Surrey, who has been held at HMP Bronzefield, is due to appear at the Old Bailey by video link for her lawyers to make an application for bail on Friday.

During the hearing in Court One, Mr Justice Edis is expected to set a timetable for the case, including a plea hearing.

The Guildford Crown Court case could be transferred to the Old Bailey to be heard by a High Court judge.

Challen, a former Police Federation worker, has been supported by her sons David and James Challen.