History’s Deadliest Women: The Husband Killer

2026-08-14

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Until the 19th century in Britain, a woman killing her husband was guilty of worse than murder, she was guilty of petty treason.So what is petty treason? What is its very harsh punishment? And why was women killing their husbands so terrifying?Kate is joined by Rose Wallis, a social historian of crime, criminal justice and social protest at the University of the West of England. They discuss the particular case of Elizabeth Herring, and why she ended up at the stake.This episode was edited by Hannah...

Until the 19th century in Britain, a woman killing her husband was guilty of worse than murder, she was guilty of petty treason.

So what is petty treason? What is its very harsh punishment? And why was women killing their husbands so terrifying?

Kate is joined by Rose Wallis, a social historian of crime, criminal justice and social protest at the University of the West of England. They discuss the particular case of Elizabeth Herring, and why she ended up at the stake.

This episode was edited by Hannah Feodorov. The producer was Sophie Gee. The senior producer was Freddy Chick.

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