Ruth Ellis, the last woman hanged for murder in the United Kingdom, has received a posthumous conditional pardon more than seven decades after her execution. The decision, announced by the government and accepted by King Charles, acknowledges the grievous wrong done to Ellis, who was a victim of horrific domestic abuse that was ignored at her trial. Her granddaughter, Laura Enston, campaigned tirelessly for the pardon.
Background of the Case
In April 1955, Ellis shot and killed her lover, David Blakely, outside a pub in north London. She was portrayed as a cold-blooded killer, despite having suffered a miscarriage caused by a punch to the stomach from Blakely just three months earlier. Her appearance—dyed blond hair and heavy makeup—was feared by her own lawyer to prejudice the jury. The death sentence caused widespread misgivings, with novelist Raymond Chandler condemning the “medieval savagery of the law.”
Pattern of Abuse
Ellis endured a lifetime of abuse, including incest, child sexual abuse, rape, and physical assaults. Her father began abusing her when she was 11, and her elder sister was impregnated by him at age 14. Later, a nightclub manager coerced her into sex, and she married a violent alcoholic. Blakely, a racing driver, was also abusive. The class difference between Ellis and Blakely was stark, with Blakely having attended public school.
Modern Parallels
Ellis’s story mirrors that of modern victims of abuse, such as those trafficked by Jeffrey Epstein or targeted by grooming gangs in English towns. The case highlights how the justice system continues to fail women who commit crimes after suffering severe abuse. Coercive control only became a criminal offence in 2015, 60 years after Ellis’s death. In 2011, Sally Challen was sentenced to life for murdering her abusive husband, with a minimum of 22 years, later reduced on appeal. Her conviction was quashed in 2019 after evidence of controlling behaviour emerged.
Current Failures
Women’s Aid reported in March 2024 a severe shortage of specialist domestic abuse services, with nearly two-thirds of women seeking refuge turned away. Despite political promises, the system still struggles to protect vulnerable women. Ellis’s pardon offers some solace to her family but underscores the need for reform.
