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Stacey Hyde cleared of murdering Vincent Francis in retrial Stacey Hyde cleared of murdering Vincent Francis in retrial
(35 minutes later)
A woman who was convicted of murdering her friend's boyfriend in 2010 has walked free after a retrial. A woman who spent five years in jail for murdering her friend's boyfriend has been cleared after a retrial.
Stacey Hyde, from Wells, Somerset, was jailed for a minimum of nine years for stabbing Vincent Francis to death. Stacey Hyde, from Wells, Somerset, was jailed for a minimum of nine years for stabbing 34-year-old Vincent Francis.
She had told her friend she "did it" for her because of the way Mr Francis treated her, the original trial heard.She had told her friend she "did it" for her because of the way Mr Francis treated her, the original trial heard.
The Court of Appeal ordered a retrial after hearing Ms Hyde had a history of abuse and was extremely vulnerable at the time of the killing.The Court of Appeal ordered a retrial after hearing Ms Hyde had a history of abuse and was extremely vulnerable at the time of the killing.
It followed an appeal by the legal campaign charity Justice for Women. It followed a campaign by her family and an appeal supported by the legal campaign charity Justice for Women.
A jury at Winchester Crown Court jury has acquitted Miss Hyde, reversing the original decision at Bristol Crown Court. A jury at Winchester Crown Court jury acquitted Miss Hyde, reversing the original decision at Bristol Crown Court.
'I need the police'
The original trial heard that Miss Hyde, who was 17 at the time of the stabbing, had been drinking heavily and returned to the flat her friend Holly Banwell shared with her partner Mr Francis.
Ms Banwell had called 999 after an alleged attack by Mr Francis. Miss Hyde picked up a carving knife and stabbed him in the back and chest.
In a recording of the call, Ms Banwell says: "My boyfriend is smashing, beating up my friend. She's a girl and I need the police, I need the police ASAP."
She continues: "There was a huge row and he hits me, and he started on... basically he hit me and he hit me, so she hit him and now he has started on her and now they are hitting each other. I need the police."
The Bristol court was told that after the stabbing Miss Hyde told Ms Banwell: "I did it for you because I don't like the way he treats you."
Mental health problemsMental health problems
Miss Hyde was 17 at the time of the stabbing, which happened at Mr Francis' flat in Charter Way, Wells. The case was taken to the High Court on the grounds there was fresh evidence to support a case of diminished responsibility and reduce the conviction to manslaughter.
The case was taken to the High Court on the grounds there was fresh evidence to support a case of diminished responsibility and reduce the conviction from murder to manslaughter.
The defence said Miss Hyde had a history of mental health problems and abuse, and was extremely vulnerable at the time of the offence.The defence said Miss Hyde had a history of mental health problems and abuse, and was extremely vulnerable at the time of the offence.
A spokesman for the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said: "The matter was once more tried before a jury who has acquitted Ms Hyde of the offence.A spokesman for the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said: "The matter was once more tried before a jury who has acquitted Ms Hyde of the offence.
"We respect the jury's decision in this case.""We respect the jury's decision in this case."
Deb Webber, Mr Francis's sister has declined to comment on the verdict.