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The portrayal of a mum on trial accused of murder as the ‘Wicked Witch of the East’ is a ‘travesty of the truth’, her barrister claimed.

Jemma Marshall is charged with the murder of 45-year-old Martin Shaw, alongside her co-defendant Jason Wadsworth. The pair, both, 37, deny murder and an alternative charge of manslaughter.

Mr Shaw was said to have been assaulted by the pair on September 10, 2023. He died 55 days later, on November 4 that year. Manchester Crown Court has heard Ms Marshall, described by prosecutors as a ‘money lender’, allegedly ‘recruited’ Mr Wadsworth as an ‘enforcer’ to help collect a debt from Mr Shaw.

Ms Marshall denied that she’d ‘exploited’ Mr Shaw, and claimed that the pair shared an ‘emotional bond’. She maintained she had not assaulted Mr Shaw an

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