reporter: jacqueline sauvage did escape domestic violence -- but at a very high cost.sauvage shot and killed her abusive husband. in october 2014, she was sentenced to ten years. the verdict was a controversial one. but the judges were not persuaded that sauvage had acted in self-defense. others disagreed. they believe that sauvage had no other way to escape her husband, who was known around the community as a violent man. >> she suffered all her life. she must be released from prison. reporter: the sauvage case convinced many women it was time to take action. for months, french women from all walks of life campaigned on sauvage's behalf. the publicity was successful. most likely to silence the protests, francois hollande granted jacqueline sauvage a rare presidential pardon. but not all legal experts agree with the decision. >> the pardon means that anyone can decide to end the life of another person. someone, a man or a woman, lives in an abusive relationship for 20, 30 or 40 years. and then, one day, one of them decides to kill the other. that can't be right. that's

reporter: jacqueline sauvage did escape domestic violence -- but at a very highost.d killed her abusive husband. in october 2014, she was sentenced to ten years. the verdict was a controversial one. buthe judg were not persuaded that sauvage had acted in self-defense. others disagreed. they believe that sauvage had no other way to escape her husband, who was known around the community as a violent man. >> she suffered all her fe. she must be released from prison. reporter: the sauvage case convinced many women it was time to take action. for months, french women from all walks of life campaigned on sauvage's behalf. the publicity was successful. most likely to silence the protests, francois hollande granted jacqueline sauvage a rare presidential pardon. but not all legal experts agree with the decision. >> the pardon means that anyone can decide to end the life of another person. someone, a man or a woman, lives in an abusive relationship for 20, 30 or 40 years. and then, one day, one of them decides to kill the other. that can't be right. that's more dangerous than