Coercive Control Victim to Appeal Murder Conviction

A woman facing life in prison is set to appeal her sentence after fresh evidence can show she was suffering from a range of abuse from her partner.

Farieissia Martin, from Toxteth, Liverpool, was jailed five years ago for the murder of her violent boyfriend, Kyle Farrell.

Farieissia, who was 22 at the time of conviction, killed Kyle with a single stab wound in 2015 after he attacked her in their home in Liverpool.

Merseyside Police)

However, lawyer on behalf of Farieissia, Clare Wade QC will argue in the Court of Appeal that the extent of the alleged physical, sexual and emotional abuse she faced at the hand of Kyle should have seen Farieissia found guilty of the lesser offence of manslaughter.

Clare also believes there was a failure by Fareissia's all-male legal team at the time of her first trial to fully explore the abuse she suffered, and the impact that may have had on her mental health.

Fresh evidence, provided by four experts instructed by both defence and prosecution, shows Fareissia was suffering from PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) at the time her boyfriend was killed after she was on the receiving end of a five year abusive relationship.

PA Images)

The new evidence would seemingly assist towards two partial defences to murder, as well as loss of control and diminished responsibility. It could also explain Fareissia's memory loss over the death, seeing her credibility doubted during her first trial.

The case bares similiarity to that of Sally Challen, who was sentenced to life in prison in 2011 for attacking her husband with a hammer.

Sally's conviction was quashed last year after a consultant forensic psychiatrist found the appellant was suffering from two mental disorders at the time of the killing.

Defence lawyers are hoping Farieissia's actions should be understood as defined by subjugation and entrapment generated by coercive and controlling behaviour by the deceased.

PA)

The case will test whether the greater understanding of coercive and controlling behaviour generated by the Challen appeal will assist Farieissia's quest to overturn her murder conviction.

Harriet Wistrich, Farieissia's solicitor said of the process: "We are appalled that The Crown are strongly contesting this appeal when their own experts agree Fareissia was suffering PTSD at the time of the killing, and that her actions were likely triggered by the violence and abuse she was subjected to at the time of the killing."

The hearing will take place on the 16th and 17th of December in The Court of Appeal.

Topics: UK News, Sex & Relationships

Kimberley Bond

Kim is a journalist at Tyla, and has previously worked at the Evening Standard, Radio Times as well as several national newspapers. A showbiz obsessive and a television fanatic, Kim is particularly interested in celebrity gossip, A-list events and the latest releases on either the big or small screen. Contact her at [email protected]

@0xKimberley