In December 1988, Yvonne Sleightholme, a quiet and shy doctor’s receptionist from Scarborough, was arrested and charged for the brutal execution-style murder of Jayne Smith. Shortly after her arrest and before her case had even gone to trial, Yvonne went completely blind as a result of a mental disorder that was known at the time as ‘hysterical blindness’. This episode examines the evidence that was used to convict Yvonne for this violent murder and asks the question... was she wrongfully convicted? 

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Sources used in this episode:

https://www.yorkpress.co.uk/news/7977238.murderer-who-shot-dead-love-rival-in-north-yorks-killing-is-released/

https://www.gazetteherald.co.uk/news/6666382.yvonnes-backers-given-euro-setback/

https://www.yorkpress.co.uk/news/7916964.campaigners-battle-to-free-sleightholme/

https://www.pressreader.com/canada/truro-daily-news/20110528/282458525554329

https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/7120676.judge-review-yvonne-murder-case/

https://www.academia.edu/8195872/Semiotics_Miscarriages_of_Justice_and_the_Trials_of_Jesus

https://www.newspapers.com/image/?clipping_id=35461020&fcfToken=eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJmcmVlLXZpZXctaWQiOjI2MDIzNDQ4NSwiaWF0IjoxNTk1MTc2MTE4LCJleHAiOjE1OTUyNjI1MTh9.3ZOfr6MzP3gVfzsr80gdTYHk9FLKZpyWoPLCz9X0uiE

https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/7046716.convicted-killer-remain-prison/

https://www.newspapers.com/clip/35460904/guardian-29-may-1993-retraction/

https://www.yorkpress.co.uk/news/7939048.blind-killer-in-euro-court-bid/

https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/written-answers/1994/dec/06/yvonne-sleightholme

https://www.gazetteherald.co.uk/news/6668703.uncertain-future-for-blind-murderer/

https://www.yorkpress.co.uk/news/7907523.blind-killer-does-not-have-anger-problem/

https://www.yorkpress.co.uk/news/7896501.blind-killer-gets-prison-swap/

https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/000954.htm

https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/7046716.convicted-killer-remain-prison/

https://www.yorkpress.co.uk/news/7931332.still-blind-still-in-jail-and-still-innocent/

Book: The Mammoth Book of More Bizarre Crimes - By Robin Odell and Paul Donnelley 

https://www.ranker.com/list/blind-criminals/ranker-crime