British woman dodges death penalty for stabbing husband to death in Malaysia

A British woman has escaped the death penalty for stabbing her husband to death in Malaysia – after a judge ruled she was guilty of manslaughter and not murder. 

Samantha Jones, 51, broke down in tears as a judge spared her the mandatory penalty of death by hanging after ruling she was not guilty of murdering husband John Jones, 63, at their home on the island of Langkawi in 2018.

Instead Jones, who claimed to have stabbed John in self-defence after suffering years of physical abuse, was found guilty of ‘culpable homicide without intent’.

Jones, who has already spent two years in jail awaiting trial, was ordered to serve three and a half more years behind bars. She had been facing up to 10 years.  

Samantha Jones, 51, from Somerset, dodged the death penalty as she went on trial in Malaysia on Monday (pictured) as a judge ruled she was not guilty of murder

Samantha Jones, 51, from Somerset, dodged the death penalty as she went on trial in Malaysia on Monday (pictured) as a judge ruled she was not guilty of murder

Jones was instead found guilty of 'culpable homicide without intent' for stabbing husband John Jones, 63 (pictured), to death in 2018

Jones was instead found guilty of ‘culpable homicide without intent’ for stabbing husband John Jones, 63 (pictured), to death in 2018

Lawyer Sangeet Kaur Deo said she was also fined £1,800.

He said: ‘She is very relieved having come to terms with what happened that night, and for the court… to understand what happened that night. She didn’t intend for this to happen.’

Arriving at court earlier in the day while wearing a mask and handcuffs, Jones had insisted: ‘I loved that man.’

Jones, a former insurance clerk, and John, a retired fireman, moved to Malaysia 13 years ago from Somerset after falling in love with the country on a holiday in 2002.

But she claims their ‘new life’ quickly turned into ‘hell in paradise’ as John – a father-of-two and grandfather-of-four – drank heavily and physically abused her.

Jones says she acted in self-defence after suffering years of physical abuse at the hands of her husband (pictured together)

Jones says she acted in self-defence after suffering years of physical abuse at the hands of her husband (pictured together)

Jones says she reported John twice to the police in the UK before they moved for abusing her, but felt unable to go to police in Malaysia because the subject is ‘taboo’.

Lawyer Sangeet Kaur Deo says Jones had suffered a broken jaw during one beating, and feared that John would kill her one day.

Friends in the area have previously claimed that John banned her from talking to other men and even attacked her with a sword on one occasion. 

On the day of the killing – October 18, 2018 – John had been out all day drinking with his ex-pat friends when he returned home and an argument broke out.

She claims she was punched in the face and kicked in the stomach before grabbing a knife in self defence, as John goaded her to stab him.

Jones says she ran to the bathroom clutching the knife, before stabbing John in the chest as he renewed his attack on her – with the knife piercing his liver.

After being sentenced to three and a half years in jail, Jones was led away from the courtroom and on to a waiting prison bus (pictured)

After being sentenced to three and a half years in jail, Jones was led away from the courtroom and on to a waiting prison bus (pictured)

Jones said she stabbed her husband (scene, pictured) after he returned from an all-day drinking session with friends and became abusive - hitting her in the face and stomach

Jones said she stabbed her husband (scene, pictured) after he returned from an all-day drinking session with friends and became abusive – hitting her in the face and stomach 

Jones says she grabbed a knife (pictured) to protect herself, then plunged it into her husband's chest as he goaded her to attack him

Jones says she grabbed a knife (pictured) to protect herself, then plunged it into her husband’s chest as he goaded her to attack him

She then ran to a neighbour to call for help, but by the time an ambulance arrived, John had bled to death. 

She was arrested and charged with murder, and has been languishing in jail on the island since then.

During early court hearings, she appeared barefoot and with matted hair. On Monday she appeared more composed – with her hair tied up and a mask on.

Speaking ahead of the trial, Deo 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.

‘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.’

Jones' family members arrive at court in Malaysia for the first day on her trial on Monday

Jones’ family members arrive at court in Malaysia for the first day on her trial on Monday

source: dailymail.co.uk