Woman who killed husband wins right to challenge murder conviction after landmark Sally Challen appeal

Martin was jailed for life for killing her ex-partner
Merseyside police
Luke O'Reilly3 December 2019
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A woman serving a life sentence for stabbing her ex-partner to death has won the right to bring a full challenge against her murder conviction.

Farieissia Martin stabbed Kyle Farrell, 21, during a row at her home in Charlecote Street, Dingle, Liverpool, in November 2014.

The mother-of-two was jailed for at least 13 years after being found guilty of murder at Liverpool Crown Court in June 2015.

Three leading judges gave Martin, 26, the go-ahead to bring a full challenge against her conviction at the Court of Appeal in London on Tuesday.

Her lawyers say there is fresh medical evidence relating to her mental state at the time of the killing.

Campaign group Justice for Women, which is supporting her appeal, says the evidence points to a diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder caused by violence she had been subjected to by Farrell.

Lady Justice Simler, sitting with Mr Justice Soole and Judge Martin Picton, said it is "arguable" that evidence about the mental disorders she had at the time of the killing would have affected the jury's verdict.

Martin's appeal follows the successful challenge brought by Sally Challen over her conviction for the hammer murder of her husband Richard.

Challen's conviction was quashed by the Court of Appeal in a landmark decision in February, after her lawyers argued she had been the victim of her husband's coercive and controlling behaviour throughout their marriage.

She admitted manslaughter and walked free from the Old Bailey in June following more than nine years in prison, after a judge announced she would not be retried for murder.

No date was set for Martin's appeal, which is expected to last for one-and-a-half days.

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