French woman who killed abusive husband freed by president François Hollande

French president François Hollande has waived the remaining jail time for a woman convicted of killing her abusive husband.

There had been a groundswell of support for Jacqueline Sauvage, victimised for decades along with her daughters.

The decision, days after Mr Hollande met with Ms Sauvage’s three grown daughters, was not a pardon, but it allows Sauvage to “immediately seek conditional freedom”, the president’s office said.

The French constitution allows a president to pardon a convict or to reduce a prison sentence.

Ms Sauvage, 68, was sentenced to 10 years in prison for the 2012 murder of her husband, who had beaten and abused her for 50 years. Her daughters also were abused.

“In the face of an exceptional human situation, the president wanted to make it possible for Madame Savage to quickly return to her family, while respecting judicial authorities,” the president’s office said.

Ms Sauvage was convicted on appeal in December.

The daughters have said that the family lived through the violence, including sexual abuse, behind closed doors, too humiliated to seek help.

Eventually, Ms Sauvage shot her husband with a rifle.

The case drew a wave of support, from women’s groups, politicians and sympathisers around France.

UPDATED: @fhollande pardons the woman who killed her violent husband. #JacquelineSauvage https://t.co/KGtm3uJs8u pic.twitter.com/vzFHFXCq7w

— POLITICOEurope (@POLITICOEurope) February 1, 2016