Woman who murdered abusive stepfather-turned-husband awaits trial verdict

A verdict is expected on Friday at the courthouse of Chalon-sur-Saone, in central France

Valerie Bacot (centre) arrives at court in Chalon-sur-Saone, central France (Laurent Cipriani/AP)

A mother of four children is on trial in France for killing her husband, formerly her stepfather, after decades of sexual, physical and psychological abuse starting when she was an adolescent.

The case has drawn broad attention and support for her amid a national reckoning with long-held taboos around domestic abuse.