At 09.01am on 13 July 1955, Ruth Ellis was executed at London's Holloway Prison; just 22 days after her conviction for the murder of her former lover David Blakely. She was the last woman to be executed in Britain, leaving behind her two young children, Georgina and Andre. The trial lasted only 2 days and, after just 15 minutes of deliberation, the jury found Ruth guilty of murder. The fact that Ruth was the victim of extreme physical, emotional and financial abuse (at the hands of Blakey and others) was largely disregarded by the court and the prosecution and defence counsel running the case. After her conviction, tens of thousands of people petitioned the then-Home Secretary, Gwilym Lloyd George, to grant Ruth a reprieve. The efforts to secure a reprieve were impeded by the Home Secretary's political views on the death penalty and his own social prejudices.
Ruth's connection with Mishcon de Reya is deep-rooted and poignant. Victor Mishcon & Co. (as the Firm was then called) had represented Ruth in relation to her first divorce. Whilst Victor Mishcon did not represent Ruth at her trial, she instructed him, in the 22 hours prior to her execution, to seek a reprieve. Now, 70 years after her execution, Ruth's grandchildren have instructed Mishcon de Reya to make an application to the King for a conditional pardon. The King, acting on the advice of the Secretary of State for Justice, the Rt Hon David Lammy MP, may choose to exercise his Royal Prerogative of Mercy in Ruth's favour. Despite the fact that a conditional pardon will not quash Ruth's conviction, it will acknowledge Ruth's execution as a gross miscarriage of justice. It would, at the same time, give closure to Ruth's family, which continues to be profoundly affected by this injustice.
The death penalty remains legal in 55 countries around the world. Ruth's case represented a turning point for the anti-death penalty movement in the UK, however, there is still a long way to go before wrongful executions are no longer commonplace. Organisations such as the Death Penalty Project are instrumental in preventing further miscarriages of justice, by providing free legal advice to defendants on death row around the world.
Mishcon will be hosting a panel session featuring those closely connected with the case.
The Mishcon Academy offers outstanding legal, leadership and skills development for legal professionals, business leaders and individuals. Our learning experts create industry leading experiences that create long-lasting change delivered through live events, courses and bespoke learning.