Ruth Ellis's Grandchildren Seek Posthumous Pardon 70 Years After Her Execution

Pardon Application Filed

The grandchildren of Ruth Ellis, the last woman to be executed in Britain, have formally applied for a posthumous conditional pardon, 70 years after she was hanged. The application, submitted to Justice Minister David Lammy, seeks to acknowledge that Ellis's execution was a 'gross miscarriage of justice' given contemporary understanding of domestic abuse and legal principles.

Four of Ellis's six grandchildren, including Laura Enston, Stephen Beard, James Enston, and Chloe Beard, are behind the application, represented by the law firm Mischon de Reya.

The Case of Ruth Ellis

Ruth Ellis, a 28-year-old nightclub hostess, was executed on July 13, 1955, at Holloway Prison in London. She was convicted of murdering her lover, racing driver David Blakely, whom she shot outside the Magdala pub in Hampstead on April 10, 1955. Her trial lasted just two days, with the jury deliberating for only 15 to 20 minutes before finding her guilty of murder.

The family's application highlights that Ellis was a victim of 'repeated and long-standing sexual, emotional and physical abuse' at Blakely's hands, a factor largely disregarded during her trial. Evidence suggests Blakely caused Ellis to suffer a miscarriage after punching her in the stomach just 10 days before the killing. Lawyers argue that such abuse, if considered today, would likely result in a charge of manslaughter rather than murder.

Legal and Historical Context

At the time of Ellis's execution, legal concepts such as diminished responsibility and loss of control were not enshrined in British law; these were introduced in 1957, two years after her death. A conditional pardon, granted through the Royal Prerogative of Mercy by the King on the advice of the Justice Secretary, would not quash her original conviction but would formally acknowledge the injustice of her execution.

The case of Ruth Ellis generated significant public interest and controversy, contributing to the growing anti-death penalty movement in the UK. A petition for clemency, signed by 50,000 people, was ultimately rejected. Previous attempts to clear her name, including an appeal in 2003 by her sister Muriel Jakubait, were unsuccessful as the Court of Appeal was bound to consider the law as it stood in 1955.

Family's Enduring Trauma

The execution had a profound and lasting impact on Ellis's family. Her daughter, Georgina, was just three years old when her mother was hanged and reportedly suffered from trauma throughout her life. Ellis's son, Andre, later died by suicide. Granddaughter Laura Enston stated, 'Ruth's execution has had a devastating impact on our family,' and expressed determination 'to right this historic injustice and honor not only Ruth but all victims of domestic abuse who have been let down by the criminal justice system.'