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Crime

08th Dec 2021

Wife who murdered husband appeals life sentence – because she became a MEME during trial

Steve Hopkins

‘He’s in the kitchen bleeding to death with any luck’

A woman who murdered her husband in a row over bubble and squeak is appealing her life sentence – because she became a MEME during the trial.

Penelope Jackson was jailed for 18 years in October after she stabbed David Jackson and then told a 999 call operator “he is in the kitchen bleeding to death with any luck”.

During a two-and-a-half week trial, the court heard how the 66-year-old also told the emergency operator that “I thought I’d get his heart, but he hasn’t got one” after admitting she had knifed her 78-year-old partner three times at their home in Berrow, Somerset, on 13 February this year.

Jackson’s coldhearted comments, along with audio, and video from the scene, went viral.

The 66-year-old is now is appealing her sentence on the grounds that “video and audio evidence released into the public domain midway through her trial impeded her right to a fair hearing”.

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Jackson’s legal team says she was subject to ”mocking and mimicry” during her trial at Bristol Crown Court and argue that ”dark humour” around the case and the fact she became a meme means she didn’t get a fair hearing.

Martin Winter, Jackson’s solicitor, said the released footage “stirred up created an unfairness because it coincided with the beginning of her giving evidence”.

He said: “The fear is that once the images go outside of the courtroom, the ability of the judge to advise a jury about that evidence is lost.

“Inevitably, it went further than the responsible news outlets and attracted a lot of commentary on social media.

”It was subject to mocking and mimicry and became the subject of memes and dark humour.”

A clip in which the retired accountant admitted stabbing David was circulated on websites and social media platforms.

Police bodycam footage showing the moment of Jackson’s arrest outside her home, in Berrow, Somerset was released with the permission of the trial judge.

Judge Martin Picton handed Jackson to a life sentence in October, of which she will spend a minimum of 18 years in prison, minus time already served in custody.

He said he did not detect a shred of remorse and that Jackson chose to stab her husband to death.

Topics:

Crime,Murder