🌟 Seeking Justice for Ruth Ellis 🌟
In a powerful move, the grandchildren of Ruth Ellis, the last woman to be hanged in Britain, are pursuing a posthumous pardon. Ruth, a nightclub hostess from Rhyl, was executed in 1955 for the murder of her lover, David Blakely, following a troubling relationship riddled with domestic abuse.
The family argues that Ruth was a victim of abuse and was let down by a flawed justice system. Her granddaughter, Laura Enston, talks about the enduring trauma faced by her family after Ruth’s execution. “My mother and uncle suffered from trauma from which neither of them were able to recover,” she shares. 💔
Ruth’s case had ignited debates over capital punishment, with public opinion questioning its relevance in modern society. At her trial, the judge instructed the jury to ignore her mistreatment as a defence, resulting in a shockingly swift 20-minute conviction that carried a mandatory death sentence.
Now, the family is reaching out to the justice secretary, David Lammy, to correct this historical wrong. They believe the developments in understanding domestic abuse would have offered Ruth a different form of justice today.
“It’s not just about Ruth,” Laura insists, “It’s about all victims of domestic abuse who have been failed by the system.” 🔍👩⚖️
Seventy years later, echoes of Ruth’s distress resonate, with mental health struggles affecting her children and grandchildren. Alex Bailin KC, representing the family, highlights how a pardon would send a strong message that violence against women is never acceptable.
And as Ruth’s grandson poignantly remarks, “She is a murderer, but she didn’t deserve to be taken from the world in the way she was.”
Join the conversation and support the call to right this historic injustice. 🙌📜 #JusticeForRuthEllis #DomesticAbuseAwareness #EndViolenceAgainstWomen