Killer makes another bid for freedom

MARIA Pearson was imprisoned in 1987 and now, aged 68, has become the UK’s longest-serving female inmate, surpassing Myra Hindley. However, she may soon be released.

- By JOHN ROGAN and SANJEETA BAINS

Pearson is making her 10th attempt at freedom, with a parole board hearing scheduled for June 2.

Pearson has spent 38 years in prison - two years longer than Moors murderer Hindley, who died in 2002 while serving her life sentence at Highpoint Prison, near Haverhill.

The Hartlepool mother was convicted of murdering building society worker Janet Newton in 1987 and received a mandatory life sentence.

She was instructed to serve at least 12 years before being eligible for parole. Pearson, who was 31 when she was incarcerated, has served an additional 25 years beyond her minimum term, reports The Mirror.

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

Pearson had previously been ‘married’ to Malcolm, but they separated when he discovered she was a bigamist, having never divorced her previous husband, Sam Travers.