UK's longest serving female inmate who was jailed for stabbing love rival 40 years ago to be released

Britain's long-serving female inmate, who was jailed for stabbing a romantic rival 40 years ago, is set to be released from prison.

Maria Pearson, now 70, from Hartlepool, stabbed her ex-boyfriend's new partner Janet Newton to death in 1986.

She stabbed Newton 17 times in the street, at least twice stabbing her through the heart.

Pearson was subsequently jailed for life, withe a minimum tariff of 12 years.

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The judge described the murder as "cruel and violent" at the time.

But now after her 10th Parole Board consideration, she will be freed.

In the decision summary, officials said that at the time of the murder, Pearson, then 31, was in relationships with both her second and first husband.

Her second husband then met Ms Newton and decided to annul the marriage.

Pearson then feared she would lose custody of her child - leading to her violent actions.

She began to track Newton's movements and routines, and fatally attacked her as she left her house.

Pearson blamed her husband, but the judge dismissed her claims at the time, finding her to be "obsessive and jealous", the summary added.

She completed her minimum tariff in October 1998 but was denied parole nine times.

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Not freed in 1998, she spent two periods in an open prison.

But she was eventually returned to higher-security jails because of concerns about her behaviour.

Despite her advanced age, several conditions of release have been imposed.

Pearson is set to be electronically tagged and have a curfew applied.

She must also live a a designated address and is restricted from contacting her victim's family.

In 2023, the family of her ex-husband said she "should never be released" and labelled her a "psycho".

A summary of the panel’s decision said: "The panel concluded in a finely balanced decision that Pearson met the test for release.

"The panel was satisfied that imprisonment was no longer necessary for the protection of the public and that she poses no more than a minimal risk of further serious offending."

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