Killing of Richard Challen

On the morning of 14 August 2010, Richard Challen was killed by his wife Sally Challen in Claygate, Surrey, England.[1][2] Sally, 56 at the time, beat the 61-year-old retired car dealer with a hammer 20 times, killing him, after he told her not to question him.[1][2] She then covered the body and left a note that said, "I love you. Sally."[3] The killing occurred in the kitchen of the couple's marital home.[2] On the following day, Sally travelled to Beachy Head, intending to kill herself.[2]

Killing of Richard Challen
Photograph of a middle-aged man
Date14 August 2010
LocationClaygate, Surrey, England
DeathsRichard Challen
ConvictedSally Challen

At Guildford Crown Court in Surrey in June 2011, she was convicted of his murder after a seven-day trial, for which she was jailed for life.[1][2] Coercive control became a criminal offence in 2015.[2] In February 2019 at the Court of Appeal in London, her conviction was quashed and a retrial ordered in light of her having adjustment disorder at the time she killed her husband.[1][2] Her appeal was based partly on her undiagnosed mental health conditions; she had been treated for bipolar disorder, dependent personality disorder and adjustment disorder while in prison.[4] Sally admitted manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility and pleaded not guilty to murder.[1] She was due to be retried on 1 July 2019.[1] However, on 7 June 2019 at the Old Bailey in London, her plea was accepted and the retrial cancelled.[1] The judge said that Challen controlled, isolated and humiliated his wife and was frequently unfaithful to her.[1] He sentenced her to nine years and four months' imprisonment, which she had already served.[1] Sally's son David supported her and fought for her in the media; he felt the murder could have been prevented.[4]

Richard Challen and Sally Challen met several years before they married in 1979;[3] the couple had two sons.[1]

In May 2020, Judge Paul Matthews, sitting in the High Court in Bristol, ruled that Sally could inherit the estate of the deceased Challen, which is valued at £1 million.[3] The claim was made to help benefit Sally's children.

References
  1. Woman who killed husband with hammer walks free from court
  2. Sally Challen: Husband 'controlled the world around her'
  3. Peltier, Elian (1 June 2020). "Abused Woman Who Killed Husband Is Granted the Family's U.K. Estate". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 8 November 2020.
  4. Moore, Anna (10 December 2019). "Sally Challen on her release from prison: 'I'm not sure how I'll cope on my own'". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 8 November 2020.
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