UK’s longest-serving woman prisoner who knifed love rival so brutally cops feared she was hit by CAR could be freed
BRITAIN’S longest serving female prisoner who brutally killed a love rival could soon be freed – as she makes her tenth parole bid.
Maria Pearson, now 67, stabbed her ex-boyfriend’s new partner Janet Newton to death in 1986, leaving her with injuries so severe police initially thought they were from a hit-and-run.
Mother-of-three Pearson, from Hartlepool, was jailed for life the following year.
Pearson, who was 31 at the time, stabbed 23-year-old building society worker Janet 17 times in Grange Road, Hartlepool, on 18 October 1986.
Ms Newton was left lying in a pool of blood.
Jurors at Pearson’s trial at Teesside Crown Court heard she had been full of “jealousy and bitterness”.
Pearson was turned down for parole last year when a panel ruled she was not fit for release due to the nature of the murder.
Other factors included how she had behaved in custody.
Maria Pearson's murder of Janet Newton
Maria Pearson has served more than 30 years in prison for the murder of Janet Newton.
She had married welder Malcolm Pearson bigamously in 1986, but the pair had an “intense and stormy” relationship and they broke up after just one month of marriage.
After the split, Malcolm began dating new girlfriend Janet, which sparked a rage-fuelled campaign by Maria.
She abused Janet in the street and sent bile-filled letters to her mother.
Just two days after Janet, 23, became engaged to Malcolm, Maria killed her in the street by stabbing her 17 times.
Maria Pearson was jailed the following year via Imprisonment for Public Protection, which only gave minimum sentences and no maximum.
Pearson remains in prison, despite her tariff for the crime expiring more than 20 years ago.
She is now believed to be Britain’s longest serving prisoner.
It can now be revealed that officials are again considering her case.
A spokesperson for the Parole Board said: “We can confirm the parole review of Maria Pearson has been referred to the Parole Board by the Secretary of State for Justice and is following standard processes.
“Parole Board decisions are solely focused on what risk a prisoner could represent to the public if released and whether that risk is manageable in the community.
“A panel will carefully examine a huge range of evidence, including details of the original crime, and any evidence of behaviour change, as well as explore the harm done and impact the crime has had on the victims.
“Members read and digest hundreds of pages of evidence and reports in the lead up to an oral hearing.
“Evidence from witnesses such as probation officers, psychiatrists and psychologists, officials supervising the offender in prison as well as victim personal statements may be given at the hearing.
“It is standard for the prisoner and witnesses to be questioned at length during the hearing which often lasts a full day or more.
“Parole reviews are undertaken thoroughly and with extreme care.
“Protecting the public is our number one priority.”
Pearson has twice been moved to an open prison, only to be returned to a closed one.
She was originally told she must serve a minimum of 11 years behind bars.
In 2014 she took part in a programme to help her with her decision-making but admitted to the parole panel she had told facilitators “what she thought they wanted to hear”.
She later declined to engage with some professional services which were supposed to help her.
In 2020 she decided she would engage with support to help people with complex behavioural problems.
That year the parole board decided she could move to an open prison, which she did in June 2021, but three months later she moved back to a closed jail.
Her release plan had included a requirement to live in designated accommodation as well as strict curbs on her contacts, movements and activities – which Pearson was reported to be unhappy with.