The latest announcement from Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy reveals that the final woman to be hanged in the United Kingdom, Ruth Ellis, will be granted a conditional pardon. This decision follows the advocacy of Ellis’s grandchildren, who sought posthumous exoneration for their grandmother following her 1955 hanging for the murder of David Blakely.
During his representation for Keir Starmer at PMQs, Mr. Lammy, who also serves as the Justice Secretary, informed the Commons of the royal acceptance of their counsel to offer a conditional pardon to Ruth Ellis, the last woman executed in the United Kingdom. The pardon, while not absolving her of the crime, commutes the death penalty to life imprisonment, acknowledging a significant injustice in this singular case.
Addressing the Commons, Mr. Lammy noted the presence of Ellis’s grandchildren in the public gallery, expressing hope that this decision would bring solace to Ruth Ellis’s family, who have carried the burden of her fate for over seven decades.
Laura Enston, Ellis’s granddaughter, affirmed their commitment to rectifying this historical injustice and honoring not only Ruth but all victims of domestic abuse failed by the legal system. She emphasized that while the pardon cannot erase the events of 71 years ago or restore the shattered lives and lost years, it symbolizes the acknowledgement that Ruth was wrongfully executed and that the justice system faltered in her case.
Describing Ruth Ellis as a victim of prolonged and severe abuse, Laura Enston shared the tragic aftermath that spanned two generations, including her uncle’s suicide and her mother’s enduring trauma that hindered her ability to parent effectively. Expressing deep gratitude to the Justice Secretary for his decisive action, the family welcomed the acknowledgment of the system’s failure in Ruth Ellis’s case.
Ruth Ellis fatally shot David Blakely on April 10, 1955, leading to her conviction and subsequent execution on July 13, 1955. The plea for a pardon was spearheaded by four of Ellis’s grandchildren, underscoring the impact of domestic abuse, trauma, and overlooked circumstances during her trial.
The Ministry of Justice highlighted that under current laws, Ellis could have potentially argued for defenses such as loss of control or diminished responsibility, which might have reduced her conviction to manslaughter had her case been heard today, underscoring the significant legal developments since her trial.
