Seeking Justice for Ruth Ellis
Seeking Justice for Ruth Ellis
What's the Story?
Ruth Ellis, the last woman to be hanged in the UK, may get a posthumous pardon. Her family says she was a victim of domestic abuse, which was not considered during her trial.
She was physically and emotionally abused by her partner, David Blakely
Her execution in 1955 was a turning point in the movement to abolish the death penalty
Why Now?
Her grandchildren are seeking a conditional pardon, citing a modern understanding of the impact of abusive behavior.