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Penelope Jackson murder trial

(179 Posts)
Sallywally1 Wed 27-Oct-21 02:05:16

Who killed her abusive husband. I have been following the trial And feel so sad for her. 20 years of abuse from this horrible man, who can blame her for finally snapping. Whilst murder is of course wrong under any circumstances I hope she does not go to jail. If there had been support for her things might have been different. They look so ordinary too, they could be anyone’s next door neighbour or family friend!

Kandinsky Wed 27-Oct-21 07:01:06

I think she’ll get sent to prison - she seemed very in control when she rang the police, even saying ‘I might go back and stab him again’ - wouldn’t be surprised if she gets 20 years ( but out in something like 8 )
All depends on how good her legal team are.

Jackiest Wed 27-Oct-21 08:13:38

Yes she is playing the poor abused wife card for all she can and her husband is not here to tell his side. After hearing what she said on the 999 call and to the police I will take a lot of convincing to say she should not be in prison for a long time.

JaneJudge Wed 27-Oct-21 08:18:45

My Father was/is abusive, not a single person who hasn't lived with him would say he was an abusive man. He can charm the birds from the trees. Behind closed doors it was a completely different scenario. I try to be open minded because of that.

Iam64 Wed 27-Oct-21 08:23:32

She’s pleaded guilty to manslaughter. It’s become clear during the trial that she was physically, verbally and emotionally abused and humiliated over many years. She sounds to have lost control, as is confirmed by the 999 recording.
She isn’t ‘playing the poor abused wife card’ she was an abused wife. Her daughter gave evidence of three serious assaults she witnessed. If he behaved like that in front of her, we can only begin to imagine what he was like when they were alone.
Women are still more seriously punished than men. How many cases do we read about where ‘provocation’ by the murdered woman is accepted as defence

MerylStreep Wed 27-Oct-21 08:44:50

Jackiest
It’s obvious from your post that you have never been a victim or witnessed domestic abuse: lucky you.

MissAdventure Wed 27-Oct-21 08:57:56

The point about domestic abuse is that they can be charming, they can be sorry, they can be very charismatic.
It's fairly obvious that if they were foul all the time then their cover would be blown and their partners would be off after a week or so.

Sago Wed 27-Oct-21 09:09:43

This is a sad story, I don’t think the judge can do anything other than give a custodial sentence.
I think she knows and accepts that, a few years in prison is probably a fair price to pay to have peace.

My violent and abusive father has been dead over 30 years but if I’m sitting down and hear my husband coming home I immediately get up and start looking busy as my father would have beaten me for being lazy.
You spend your life on the edge, listening for the clues that indicate an outburst is imminent, a line of questioning that’s going to trap you, a meal that’s not hot enough or big enough, an errand that’s not carried out quick enough.
Nobody could understand what it’s like unless you have lived it.

I fully understand what she has done, I think if I had been an adult and physically strong enough I could have happily killed my father.

If she does go to prison I she will have respect and understanding from the other prisoners.

Scones Wed 27-Oct-21 09:10:25

Jackiest

Yes she is playing the poor abused wife card for all she can and her husband is not here to tell his side. After hearing what she said on the 999 call and to the police I will take a lot of convincing to say she should not be in prison for a long time.

He called her 'thing.'
In December she called the police because he was in the home smashing glass with a poker.
A witness saw her the man pushing Penelope against the wall with her nose bloodied.
The same witness saw him hold a knife to Penelope's throat.

Some card.

What is it with this 'playing the card' thing? Is it a tool people use to discredit others without presenting any credible argument?

Aveline Wed 27-Oct-21 09:26:05

Sago thanks

Zoejory Wed 27-Oct-21 09:34:05

We don't really know what she went through. The trial should be able to get to the truth.

I know a lot about abusive men. My father was vile, yet to anyone who met him they'd say what a charming character he was.

She sounded euphoric because she was. She'd finally got rid of him.

I imagine she'll get a short sentence. I don't think she'd be a danger to the public.

GrannyGravy13 Wed 27-Oct-21 09:37:39

Sago ?

I hope that if it is a custodial sentence it is short and in an open prison, she has already served her time living with a violent controlling man.

Smileless2012 Wed 27-Oct-21 09:39:07

I haven't been following this so don't know any details but I do know that 'battered wife syndrome' is often put forward by the defence. That there have been previous cases where the victim has 'snapped' and killed their abusive H/partner not during an attack but in the aftermath.

Kate1949 Wed 27-Oct-21 09:44:29

It's easy to comment if you haven't been through it. Oh yes the charming abuser. My father was handsome with an Irish charm. People thought he was great. He used to beat my mother regularly in front of us, smashing her face against the wall, using filthy language and other horrors. He also beat and abused my older sister. I would lie in bed waiting for him to return from the pub, hoping he had died. He came from a lovely family. My mother had nowhere to go in those days.

Granniesunite Wed 27-Oct-21 09:45:38

Im so sad for this poor woman.
She probably suffered the unimaginable at the hands of husband.
I hope the full truth comes out in court and she has a very good lawyer.

25Avalon Wed 27-Oct-21 09:46:29

She took the law into her own hands and killed her husband and for this there has to be punishment or else it sets a precedence that killing is ok. However, by several accounts there are serious mitigating circumstances for her actions so she will probably get a reduced sentence. Until all the evidence is given we will not know and it will be up to a jury to decide guilt and for the judge to decide the appropriate sentence within the law.

To me this highlights that more support needs to be available for abused wives so that they can leave without being driven to such extreme measures.

timetogo2016 Wed 27-Oct-21 10:04:29

I think if she doesn`t go to prison there will be a whole can of worms opening up around the country.
I imagine there is a lot of people who have been in/and still are in that situation,men and women,and there`s a good chance there will be more cases if she doesn`t serve time IMO.

MissAdventure Wed 27-Oct-21 10:13:57

I don't see how she can not go to prison, having clearly confessed, but hopefully the full circumstances will be taken into account.
She has said it will be worth it.

Galaxy Wed 27-Oct-21 10:21:50

David Challen whose mother served 9 years for murdering his father after years of abuse does really good work on this issue.

Visgir1 Wed 27-Oct-21 10:33:07

Interesting case, but I think she will go to Prison as she refused to help him when the Ambulance control ask her to help him, even though she is pleading Manslaughter.

maddyone Wed 27-Oct-21 10:35:09

Poor woman. I suspect she’ll get sent to prison.

MissAdventure Wed 27-Oct-21 10:37:03

I think it's right that she will go to prison, despite the circumstances.

Ilovecheese Wed 27-Oct-21 11:26:32

Recently a man was given 5 years for murdering his wife because he was fed up of being in lockdown. Another man was given 4 years for "not remembering " strangling a woman to death during sex.
When this woman is sentenced, surely it should be for less time than these men were given.

MissAdventure Wed 27-Oct-21 11:30:43

I sincerely hope so.

25Avalon Wed 27-Oct-21 11:32:17

The jury are out now.