Case Study:Case Study:

Ruth EllisRuth Ellis-the last -the last woman to be hung in the woman to be hung in the

UKUK

http://www.tbcs.org.uk/mrsthompson.htm

Case Study: Ruth EllisCase Study: Ruth Ellis Ruth Ellis was hung in Ruth Ellis was hung in

July, 1955 after being July, 1955 after being found guilty of murdering found guilty of murdering her boyfriend.her boyfriend.

Ruth shot her boyfriend 5 Ruth shot her boyfriend 5 times outside a public times outside a public house in north London. house in north London. The final shot was at point The final shot was at point blank range.blank range.

Task 1:Task 1:You are the judge in You are the judge in Ruth’s case. How Ruth’s case. How would you punish her?would you punish her?

Task 2:You are the judge in Ruth’s case. How would you punish her?

Has your answer changed? If it has or has not then explain why.

Do you think that losing her life was the right punishment for Ruth?

Ruth’s boyfriend, David Blakely was a violent and abusive partner, Ten days before the shooting he had punched a pregnant Ruth in the stomach, causing her to miscarry their baby.

Ruth had been raped by her father as a child.

Ruth was addicted to anti-depressants.

Ruth Ellis

On Wednesday, the 13th of July 1955 at London's Holloway Prison, Ruth Ellis

secured her place in history becoming the 15th and last woman to be executed in

England and Wales in the 20th century. Her case is memorable because she was

hanged, had she had been given a life sentence she would have been forgotten in

a few weeks by most people

Ruth Ellis

•Ruth Ellis waits for former lover.

•Shoots him 6 times in front of witnesses.

•Arrested and immediately confesses.

•In court admits shooting but claims lover’s

previous behaviour had provoked her.

•Jury took only 23 minutes to find her guilty

Last woman in UK to be executed.

Should Ruth have hanged? – No

• She was female and had 2 children

• Her lover had abused her.

• Had suffered miscarriage because of lover’s violence, 10 days before.

• Previous week a woman was reprieved for

murder (Sarah Lloyd)

Should Ruth have hanged? – Yes

• Murder was planned and premeditated.

• Ruth admitted in court her intention was to kill.

• A bystander was injured in the shooting.

• Possessed gun and prepared to use it.

• She refused to appeal against her sentence.

Postscript to Ruth Ellis execution

The Home Office received 234 applications offering to act as

hangman or view her execution according to Syd Dernley the

assistant executioner

Crowds gather outside Holloway Prison for the execution of Ruth Ellis, the last woman to receive the death penalty in Britain, July 1955.

Who benefits from capital punishment? Is it a form of deterrent or merely a public act of revenge? Ellis never had any doubt that she should be executed for what she did but would her case have been judged 'manslaughter' if she was tried under today's judicial system?