Ruth Ellis gained notoriety as the last woman to be hanged in the United Kingdom after being convicted of murdering her lover. We take a look at the landmark true crime case.
Ruth Ellis was a woman whose life and tragic death captivated the attention of the world.
She’s remembered as the last woman to be executed in the United Kingdom and her case has become a symbol of the injustice and cruelty of capital punishment.
The story of Ruth Ellis is a complex and intriguing one that reveals the darker side of society, the law, and the media.
Who was Ruth Ellis?
Ruth Ellis was born on 9 October 1926, in Rhyl, North Wales. She was the third of six children.
Her parents, Arthur and Elisabeta Neilson, struggled financially, and Ruth grew up in poverty.
She left school at the age of 14 and started working in a variety of jobs, including as a waitress, a model and a nightclub hostess.
In 1945, at the age of 19, she married George Ellis. However, their marriage was marred by violence, and they divorced in 1951.
In the years that followed, Ruth became known for her beauty and charm and she had many high-profile relationships with wealthy and powerful men.
She also became a regular at nightclubs, where she worked as a hostess and dancer. It was in one of these clubs that she met David Blakely, a racing driver who would ultimately be her undoing.
The Murder of David Blakely
On the evening of 10 April 1955, Ruth Ellis shot and killed David Blakely outside the Magdala Tavern pub in Hampstead, London.
The shooting was witnessed by several people and Ruth made no attempt to escape or deny her actions.
She was arrested and charged with murder and her trial began on 20 June 1955.
During the trial, Ruth’s defense team argued that she had been provoked into the crime by Blakely’s violent and abusive behaviour towards her.
However, the prosecution argued that the murder was premeditated and that Ruth had acted out of jealousy and anger.
The jury ultimately found her guilty and she was sentenced to death.
The last execution of a woman in the UK
Ruth Ellis’ execution took place on 13 July 1955, at Holloway Prison in London.
Her death sparked a national debate about capital punishment, with many people questioning the fairness and morality of the death penalty.
While not widely recognised at the time, Ruth’s story has since been seen as emblematic of the plight of women suffering abuse at the hands of their partners.
The legacy of Ruth Ellis
The legacy of Ruth Ellis is a complex and multifaceted one. On the one hand, she is remembered as a tragic victim of the injustice and cruelty of the legal system.
Her execution contributed to growing public discomfort with capital punishment, and although it wasn’t directly responsible for the abolition of the death penalty, it became part of the broader debate that led to its end in 1965.
On the other hand, Ruth’s story is also a cautionary tale about the dangers of domestic violence and the need for greater support and protection for victims.
Her case helped to raise awareness of the issue and to inspire reforms in the legal system that aimed to better protect women and children from abuse.
