The grandchildren of the last woman to be hanged in Britain are seeking a posthumous pardon, in light of evidence that she was physically and emotionally abused by her partner before killing him.
Ruth Ellis, a Welsh-born nightclub hostess, was executed in London’s Holloway Prison on 13 July 1955 after being convicted of murdering her lover, David Blakely.
The 28-year-old shot dead the racing driver following a tumultuous relationship involving infidelity on both sides, an aborted pregnancy, and physical abuse by Mr Blakely – including a punch in the stomach during an argument that led to a miscarriage.
Her execution became politicised in the discussion of the death penalty in modern Britain, and was a turning point in the movement for the abolition of execution as a method of punishment.
Two years after Ellis’ hanging, legal changes saw diminished responsibility introduced as a defence, while capital punishment was abolished for the crime of murder 11 years later.
Her family have spent decades attempting to get her case reconsidered, and have now applied to justice secretary David Lammy seeking a conditional pardon.
“Ruth’s execution has had a devastating impact on our family,” said Laura Enston, Ellis’ granddaughter.
“We are determined to do what we can to right this historic injustice and honour not only Ruth but all victims of domestic abuse who have been let down by the criminal justice system,” she said.
What happened?
On Easter Sunday, 1955, Ellis shot Blakely dead outside The Magdala pub in Hampstead, London, following their tumultuous relationship.
Under cross-examination, Ellis admitted that she intended to kill Blakely, and the jury took just 20 minutes to convict her of murder – a charge that carried a mandatory death sentence.
At the time, the British public was already questioning whether capital punishment had a place in 20th-century society.
Ms Ellis was the last woman to be hanged in the UK, and her death became a major talking point in the debate.
Capital punishment for murder was abolished in the UK in 1965, 11 years after Ms Ellis’ death. It was later made illegal for all crimes in 1998.
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Seeking pardon
Ms Enston said that the case had resulted in Ellis’ children being dogged by mental health problems, describing her mother as “a very tormented woman”, while her uncle died by suicide.
Muriel Jakubait, the sister of Ms Ellis, filed an appeal in 2003 to reduce her sister’s conviction to manslaughter on the grounds of provocation, but was unsuccessful because it was required to consider the law at the time of the offence.
Unlike court appeals, pardons can consider broader factors, such as social developments, that may render a conviction or its resulting punishment inappropriate or unfair.
Alex Bailin KC, representing Ellis’ family, added: “Thankfully, 70 years after Ruth was hanged, there is now a much better understanding of the impact of domestic abuse on the emotional wellbeing and behaviour of victims.
“Based on the evidence we have reviewed, if Ruth’s case had taken place in modern times, she would have been able to plead a defence of diminished responsibility or loss of control.
“A posthumous conditional pardon for Ruth Ellis would correct a historical wrong and send a clear message to the public that violence against women and girls is never acceptable.”
