British longest serving female prisoner who stabbed love rival 17 times makes freedom bid

Maria Pearson, 68, was jailed for life in 1987 after ambushing Janet Newton, who had become engaged to the killer's former 'husband'

Britain's longest-service female prisoner is seeking release from jail after 38 years behind bars. Maria Pearson was jailed for life in 1987 for the brutal killing of her ex-partner's new fiancee.

Her victim, Janet Newton. Newton, had recently become engaged to Pearson's former partner, triggering a savage attack that left her with injuries so severe that police initially suspected a hit-and-run accident. The court originally mandated a minimum sentence of 12 years.

However, Pearson, who was 31 at the time, has served over 25 years beyond this minimum term. Now, the 68-year-old is making her tenth bid for freedom, with a parole hearing scheduled for Monday, June 2, reports The Mirror.

Pearson, from Hartlepool, has now overtaken Myra Hindley in terms of time spent in prison. She has served two years longer than Moors murderer Hindley, who died in 2002 while serving her life sentence at Highpoint Prison, near Haverhill.

Pearson's victim had recently become engaged to her former partner, Malcolm Pearson. Enraged, Pearson stabbed Janet 17 times, leaving her body so mutilated that police initially believed she had been involved in a hit-and-run accident.

Pearson was once 'married' to Malcolm, but the pair split when he found out she was a bigamist, having never divorced her former husband, Sam Travers. Pearson began stalking Malcolm's new girlfriend, Janet, and her family after learning about their relationship.

On Saturday, October 18, 1986, Janet left her home to meet Malcolm. Despite his house being just a five-minute walk away, she never arrived.

Pearson had stalked the building society worker and then shouted at her before taking a sheath knife and stabbing her 17 times. The knife penetrated her heart and she was left lying in the street in Grange Road, Hartlepool.

The murder took place just two days after Ms Newton and Pearson's former lover, Malcolm Pearson, had become engaged. When Malcolm went looking for her, he found her in a pool of blood.

The force of Pearson's stabbing was so severe that the blade pierced the heart of her 23-year-old victim. On what would have been Janet's 59th birthday, October 16 last year, her sister, Lyn, received a letter from the parole board stating that Pearson had made her tenth attempt at freedom and the matter was being considered.

The Parole Board has since confirmed that Pearson's case will be heard on June 2. Her previous nine appeals have all been rejected.