RUTH Ellis was the last ever woman to be executed in Britain.
Her tragic story features in A Cruel Love: The Ruth Ellis Story, which dropped on Wednesday, March 5th, 2025.
Hulton Archive – GettyNight club manager Ruth Ellis was the last woman hanged in the UK[/caption]
Why was Ruth Ellis hanged?
Ruth Ellis was hanged on July 13, 1955, after being convicted of the premeditated murder of her lover David Blakely.
She became the last woman to be executed in Britain, a case that sparked widespread public debate and contributed to opinions on capital punishment changing.
On Easter Sunday 1955, Ellis shot Blakely outside the Magdala pub in Hampstead, West London.
Armed with a revolver, which was provided by her friend Desmond Cussen, she killed Blakely with five pulls of the trigger.
A sixth shot injured a bystander and Ellis was immediately arrested by an off-duty policeman.
She later confessed to the crime, stating during her trial: “It’s obvious when I shot him I intended to kill him.”
Trial and conviction
Ellis’ admission sealed her conviction for murder under English law.
This mandated a death sentence at the time.
The trial lasted just one and a half days, with the jury taking less than 30 minutes to return the guilty verdict.
Abuse
Ellis’ relationship with Blakely was tumultuous and abusive.
He assaulted her multiple times, including punching her in the stomach while she was pregnant, leading to a miscarriage just weeks before the murder.
Despite this history of abuse, the jury was not allowed to consider provocation or diminished responsibility as defences during the trial.
The presiding judge, Sir Cecil Havers, excluded these arguments from consideration, emphasising that jealousy or emotional distress did not constitute legal defences under English law.
Reaction and appeals
Public reaction to Ellis’ death sentence was significant.
Petitions for clemency garnered over 50,000 signatures, with many arguing her actions were driven by emotional turmoil and provocation.
RexLucy Boynton as Ruth Ellis in A Cruel Love: The Ruth Ellis Story[/caption]
However, Home Secretary Gwilym Lloyd George denied all appeals for a reprieve, citing the deliberate nature of the crime.
Execution
Ellis’ execution at Holloway Prison drew significant media attention and public outcry.
The case is widely regarded as pivotal in galvanising opposition to capital punishment in Britain.
The death penalty for murder was abolished in 1965.
A Cruel Love: The Ruth Ellis Story
A new four-part ITV series called A Cruel Love: The Ruth Ellis Story explores the life of Ruth Ellis.
It features Lucy Boynton as Ruth Ellis and Laurie Davidson as David Blakely.
A Cruel Love: The Ruth Ellis Story premiered on ITV1 at 9 pm on Wednesday, March 5th, 2025.
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