The Deputy Prime Minister, David Lammy, announced that the final woman to be hanged in the United Kingdom, Ruth Ellis, will receive a conditional pardon. Ruth Ellis was executed in 1955 for the murder of her lover, David Blakely. The pardon, while not absolving her of the crime, commutes her death sentence to life imprisonment as a recognition of an injustice in her case.
During his address at PMQs in place of Keir Starmer, Mr. Lammy conveyed that King has approved the advice to grant Ruth Ellis a conditional pardon. He mentioned that this decision aims to bring some solace to Ruth Ellis’s family, who have carried the burden of her story for over seven decades. Ruth Ellis’s granddaughter, Laura Enston, expressed determination to correct the historical injustice done to her grandmother and all victims of domestic abuse failed by the legal system.
Laura Enston emphasized that the pardon doesn’t erase the past but acknowledges the failure of the justice system in Ruth Ellis’s case. She highlighted the sustained abuse Ruth endured and the lasting impact on subsequent generations of her family. The family expressed gratitude to the Justice Secretary for his decisive action.
Ruth Ellis fatally shot David Blakely in April 1955 and was executed in July of the same year. The request for a pardon was made by four of her grandchildren, arguing that her case was heavily influenced by domestic abuse and trauma, factors not adequately considered during her trial. The Ministry of Justice noted that under current laws, Ruth Ellis might have been able to present defenses like loss of control or diminished responsibility, potentially leading to a reduced conviction if her case were tried today.