King Charles has granted a conditional pardon to Ruth Ellis, the last woman to be hanged in the United Kingdom, Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy announced on July 8, 2026. The pardon replaces her death sentence with a life sentence, acknowledging a profound injustice in this exceptional case.
Background of the Case
Ruth Ellis was convicted of the murder of her lover, David Blakely, whom she shot dead in Hampstead on April 10, 1955. Ellis, then 28, fired a revolver at Blakely from across the street, missing the first shot but hitting him with the second. As he crumpled onto the pavement, she stood over him and fired three more shots at point-blank range. She made no attempt to flee and confessed to police immediately, stating at trial: "It's obvious when I shot him, I intended to kill him."
Ellis was quickly found guilty and sentenced to death under mandatory capital punishment laws. She was executed by Albert Pierrepoint at Holloway Prison on July 13, 1955, becoming the last woman hanged in Britain.
Controversy and Campaign for Pardon
The case has remained contentious for over 70 years, sparking debates on capital punishment and domestic violence. Ellis's supporters argued she suffered years of abuse, which should have mitigated her sentence. David Lammy told the Commons: "We hope this brings a measure of peace to Ruth Ellis's family, who have carried the weight of what happened to her for over 70 years." The pardon does not declare her innocent but replaces the death penalty with life imprisonment.
Ruth Ellis's Life and Abuse
Born Ruth Neilson on October 9, 1926, in Rhyl, Wales, she endured a troubled childhood. Her father, Arthur, physically and sexually abused her older sister Muriel, and later turned his abuse on Ruth when she turned 11. After schooling in Basingstoke, she moved to London as a teenager, where she became pregnant by a Canadian soldier and gave birth to a son, Clare Andrea Neilson. She later worked as a nightclub hostess and nude model, and married dentist George Johnston Ellis in the early 1950s. The marriage was violent; George was a possessive alcoholic who refused to acknowledge paternity of their daughter, Georgina. Ruth eventually turned to prostitution after their divorce.
The Murder of David Blakely
In 1953, Ellis met David Blakely, a former public schoolboy and motor racing enthusiast, while managing the Little Club nightclub in Knightsbridge. Despite his engagement to another woman, Blakely moved into her flat. Their relationship was turbulent, marked by violence and infidelity. In January 1955, Blakely punched Ellis in the stomach, causing a miscarriage. On Easter Sunday, April 10, 1955, she followed him to The Magdala pub in Hampstead and shot him as he left.
Execution and Burial
Ellis was originally buried in Holloway Prison Cemetery, but her remains were exhumed in 1971 and reinterred at St. Mary's Churchyard, Amersham, Buckinghamshire. Her headstone bears the name Ruth Hornby, the family's original surname. Her case continues to influence discussions on domestic violence and capital punishment reform.
