Penelope Jackson, 66, has been denied bail after being charged with the murder of her husband, David Jackson, 78, a retired army lieutenant colonel. The decision was made at Bristol Crown Court, where footage of her arrest was shown to the jury.
In the video, Jackson is heard telling police officers, 'I admit it all,' and expressing hope that her husband would not survive. She said, 'With any luck you’ll be too late,' and later remarked, 'Oh good,' upon being told she was under arrest for murder.
The prosecution alleges that Jackson stabbed her husband multiple times in the kitchen of their bungalow in Berrow, Somerset, in February. A 999 call played to the court captured the victim screaming as the attack occurred. Jackson told the call handler, 'I might go and stab him again,' and admitted to stabbing him three times, stating, 'I thought I stabbed him in the heart. Well he hasn’t got one.'
Jackson has admitted manslaughter but denies murder. Her defence barrister, Clare Wade QC, argued that the case is about domestic abuse and control, claiming Jackson lost control after years of suffering. Jackson testified that her husband was physically and verbally abusive, including head-butting her, holding a knife to her throat, and strangling her until she lost consciousness.
The court heard that Jackson had a tattoo reading 'property of David Jackson' and that her previous husband had died by suicide after she admitted an affair with Mr Jackson. She described living in fear, saying, 'I didn’t know if I was waking up to nice David or nasty David.'
The trial continues.
