The grandchildren of Ruth Ellis, the last woman executed in Britain, are seeking a posthumous pardon from Justice Secretary David Lammy. They argue she was a victim of domestic abuse who should not have been hanged for killing her violent partner.
Ellis, a 26-year-old nightclub hostess and mother of two, was executed on 13 July 1955 at Holloway Prison. She had been convicted of murdering her lover David Blakely, whom she shot dead outside The Magdala pub in Hampstead, London.
Abuse and tragedy behind the killing
The relationship between Ellis and Blakely involved infidelity on both sides, physical abuse, and an aborted pregnancy. Blakely had punched Ellis in the stomach during an argument, causing a miscarriage that contributed to the deteriorating relationship.
Despite evidence of domestic abuse, the judge instructed the jury to disregard the fact that Ellis had been "badly treated by her lover" as a defence. Under cross-examination, Ellis admitted she intended to kill Blakely, and the jury convicted her of murder in just 20 minutes.
Lasting family trauma
Laura Enston, Ellis' granddaughter, said: "Ruth's execution has had a devastating impact on our family. My mother and uncle suffered from trauma from which neither of them were able to recover, and as grandchildren we have felt these ripple effects."
Enston described her mother as "a very tormented woman" and revealed that her uncle took his own life. She added: "The evidence shared with the justice secretary makes clear that the punishment did not fit the crime."
Modern legal understanding
Alex Bailin KC, representing the family, argued that modern understanding of domestic abuse would have allowed different legal defences. He said: "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."
Unlike court appeals, posthumous pardons can consider broader social developments that may render historical convictions inappropriate. Bailin added: "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."
Sources used: "PA Media" Note: This article has been created with Artificial Intelligence (AI).
