Sally’s law is being introduced in the UK, which would make it so that people who murder their alleged abuser may be given lighter sentencing.
Sally’s Law is named after Sally Challen who admitted to killing her husband. She was tracking his movements, checking his phone, believing he was cheating on her and later said: “If I can’t have him, no-one can.” Challen was initially ordered to serve a minimum term of 22 years in jail. Jurors were told she attacked the retired businessman in August 2010, as he ate lunch at the kitchen table of their former marital home, using a hammer she had brought in her handbag. Keep in mind that she was not trapped in a relationship with this man and they had separated in 2009 and she begged to reconcile with him in 2010.
Her legal team succesfully appealed her sentence in 2019 on the basis of diminished responsibility. She received 14 years for manslaughter but walked free due to time served.
My gut tells me that murderers like Sally who admitted to killing her husband due to her insecurities will take advantage of this law, and that this won’t be applied to male victims of abuse.
I’m not against the law on principle, but I also suspect it won’t be applied equally between male and female victims.
I think I am against this, for 2 reasons. First, we want to encourage people who can’t stand each other to get away from each other, not kill each other. Second, putting this option out there means people will try to use it, whether or not it actually applies.