Legal battle for Ruth Ellis pardon

Leading law firm Mishcon de Reya has been instructed to pursue a legal case for a posthumous pardon for Ruth Ellis, the last woman to be hanged in the UK. Ruth was executed in 1955 at the age of 28 after being convicted of murdering her former lover David Blakely. Her grandson, Stephen Beard, believes crucial evidence was not presented at trial, leading to a wrongful conviction and the ultimate sentence of capital punishment. Her story is currently being dramatised in the ITV series A Cruel Love: The Ruth Ellis Story.

Mishcon de Reya was founded by the late Lord Victor Mishcon, who, while not involved in Ruth’s trial, advocated for her case after conviction and attempted to intervene before her execution. Decades later, the firm has been engaged by Ruth’s family to present new evidence and formally request a pardon from the Ministry of Justice. A pardon does not erase a conviction but can be granted if it is shown that the convicted person was morally and technically innocent.

The legal team will undertake a detailed review of the evidence originally presented and any new findings that may indicate Ruth’s conviction was a miscarriage of justice. Katy Colton, Partner and Head of Politics and Law at Mishcon de Reya, said securing a posthumous pardon for Ruth Ellis is not just about correcting a historical wrong but about acknowledging systemic failures that led to her unjust conviction and execution. Our legal system must reflect the values of fairness and justice, and we are committed to presenting the compelling new evidence that supports an application for a pardon. We hope this case will highlight the importance of due process and the need to ensure that justice is served, even many years after the fact.

On 10 April 1955, Ruth was arrested for allegedly murdering David Blakely. Her trial lasted only two days in June, and after 15 minutes of jury deliberation, she was found guilty. Her family argues that vital evidence was ignored, including her history as a victim of domestic abuse and the role of Desmond Cussen, who allegedly supplied and trained her to use the weapon that killed Blakely.

James Libson, Managing Partner at Mishcon de Reya, said Mishcon de Reya has always been driven by a socially conscious spirit and a desire to right a wrong. It’s in the DNA of our firm, from our founder Lord Victor Mishcon taking up Ruth Ellis’ cause following her conviction to his work as a member of the Wolfenden Committee, which advocated for the decriminalisation of homosexual acts between consenting adults in private. I am very proud to have the opportunity to continue Lord Mishcon’s work in acting for the family of Ruth Ellis, and I very much hope we can help them achieve justice for her.

At the time of her trial, societal attitudes towards women were shifting, but expectations remained rooted in traditional domestic roles. Ruth, a working-class woman and nightclub hostess, faced prejudice due to her independence, career aspirations, and single-mother status. Anju Suneja, Partner and EDI Board Representative at Mishcon de Reya, said at the time of Ruth's conviction and execution in 1955, women, who had contributed enormously to the war effort through work, were expected to resume their former roles as homemakers, dependent on men for a home and financial security. Women like Ruth who pressed for careers, independent financial security, and a different place in society often paid a severe price. Ruth's story continues to have resonance today as domestic violence and other forms of violence against women and girls increase, the gender pay gap persists, women bear the majority of the burden of caring responsibilities, and, around the world, hard-won freedoms like reproductive choice that women thought were secure, are rolled back. I'm very proud that Mishcon de Reya is working with Stephen Beard and his family to seek long-overdue justice for Ruth.

Ruth was executed on 13 July 1955 at Holloway Prison, leaving behind her two young children. Stephen Beard and his family hope to prove that her trial and execution were a miscarriage of justice and that she was failed by the British legal system in the most irreversible way.