A woman who bludgeoned her husband to death with a hammer has won the latest round in an attempt to appeal against her conviction for murder.

Georgina Challen attacked 61-year-old Richard Challen in August 2010 as he ate lunch at the kitchen table in their former home in Claygate, Surrey.

In June 2011 a jury at Guildford crown court took 11 hours to find Challen, known as Sally, guilty of murdering the former car dealer.

She was jailed for life with a minimum term of 22 years, which was later reduced on appeal by four years. On Thursday, three court of appeal judges allowed Challen leave to appeal against the conviction.

Speaking outside court after the hearing, Challen’s son David, who supports her bid, said: “I’m overcome, overjoyed, most of all thankful. Thankful we are being allowed the opportunity to explore this issue further, to explore the issues that might have been overlooked or not present during the first trial.

“There are not many words I can say, but I am optimistic. I think a lot of good can come from this for my mother and for anyone else suffering from mental domestic abuse in reference to coercive control.”

Referring to his mother, now 63, he added: “She has already got the independence and now she needs to believe that everyone else is with her and the courts are giving her a chance, that is the most important thing.”

He also thanked his mother’s solicitor, Harriet Wistrich, who said David had done an “excellent job” raising awareness of the case and the issue of coercive control.

Lawyers for Challen argued that the appeal should be allowed as changes in the law around coercive and controlling behaviour since the conviction amounted to fresh evidence in her defence.

Challen’s lawyers argue the conviction could be reduced to manslaughter. Coercive control refers to psychological abuse involving manipulation, degradation, using mind games and generally monitoring and controlling a person’s day-to-day behaviour.

Clare Wade QC, representing Challen, told the judges: “The understanding of domestic abuse is in constant flux.”

Wade said there was now evidence to suggest Challen suffered from a mood disorder, or possibly bipolar disorder, which, combined with her husband’s coercive and controlling behaviour, could have led to her actions.

Lady Justice Rafferty, Mr Justice Stuart-Smith and Mrs Justice Carr granted the application. It was the second time Challen had applied for leave to appeal against conviction. An earlier attempt was unsuccessful.



Handing down the decision, Rafferty said: “It should be plainly understood that the application made today is but one step in what, it is hoped by counsel, those who instruct her and many others concerned in this case, will be a full detailed exploration of the position, based on scholarship, learning and clinical expertise, which should prevail now.

“A jury, it is argued, should, with the benefit of that learning, be enabled to reach a clear settled conclusion on the basis of an understanding which, it is said, was not available to the jury in 2011.

“We scrupulously avoid expressing any view on any outcome but we are persuaded that leave to appeal should be granted.”