Brit woman, 54, accused of stabbing husband, 63, to death after moving to tropical island in bid to avoid death penalty
A BRITISH woman who could be HANGED after she was accused of murdering her husband has told lawyers: “I loved that man.”
Samantha Jones, 54, will go on trial in Malaysia today after she was charged with the murder of husband John, 63, who was fatally stabbed.
Samantha Jones is due to go on trial charged with the murder of her husband in Malaysia[/caption] John, 63, was fatally stabbed in 2018[/caption]If she’s convicted of ‘murder with intent’ following the trial, she will be hanged.
But Jones is now fighting to have the charge against her reduced to manslaughter.
If convicted of the lesser charge, she would face 10 to 30 years behind bars.
Prosecutors allege Mr Jones, a granddad-of-five, died from a stab wound which pierced his liver at his villa on Langkawi.
He was knifed after returning from a day drinking with fellow ex-pats.
His wife ran to their Brit neighbour for help.
But by the time an ambulance arrived, Mr Jones was dead.
Since the death of her husband, Jones has been in a Malaysian jail awaiting her trial.
Shocking photos show her arriving for hearings barefoot and shackled with matted hair.
The defendant, who comes from Somerset, says she suffered years of domestic abuse throughout her marriage.
Her lawyer, Sangeet Kaur Deo, a human rights specialist, told the Mirror: “The one thing she wants everyone to know is she really loved this man.
“He had a lot of problems and she was standing by him and working it through.
A lawyer for Jones says she faced serious domestic violence[/caption] In previous court appearances, she has been shackled, with matted hair and bare feet[/caption]“She never imagined anything like this could ever happen.
“She’s lost her husband and home.
“She is still grieving, it has been a traumatic experience.
“We are of the view the facts of the case do not support a murder charge.”
It’s understood that Jones will not be supported by her family in court as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.
She met her late husband when he was still married to the mother of his children.
He then left his former wife and the couple moved to Langkawi for a “new life” together.
However, it’s alleged Mr Jones was violent to his new wife, and Ms Kaur Deo said Jones feared he would kill her.
She suffered a broken jaw during one incident, the lawyer said – but was unable to call police as domestic violence is “taboo” in Malaysia.
Mr Jones died on October 18 2018.
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The lawyer said: “He came home completely drunk… he punched her all over.
“It’s unclear what happened next.”
She claims witnesses say Samantha was “living in hell in paradise”.
Jones has been awaiting trial in a Malaysian jail[/caption] Human rights lawyer Sangeet Kaur Deo says Jones “really loved” her husband[/caption]