The most recent woman to be executed in the United Kingdom is set to receive a conditional pardon, as confirmed by Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy.

Ruth Elli’s descendants had requested a posthumous pardon for their grandmother, who was executed in 1955 after being convicted of murdering her partner David Blakely.

During the Prime Minister’s Questions, Mr. Lammy, acting on behalf of Keir Starmer, announced to the House of Commons that King George had agreed to grant Ruth Ellis a conditional pardon, marking her as the final woman to face execution in the UK.

Although the pardon does not imply her innocence in Blakely’s killing, it commutes the death sentence to life imprisonment, acknowledging a significant injustice in her case.

Addressing the Commons, Mr. Lammy noted the presence of Ellis’s grandchildren in the public gallery, expressing hope that the pardon would provide some solace to her family, who have carried the burden of her story for over seven decades.

In a statement to the BBC, Ellis’s granddaughter, Laura Enston, emphasized their commitment to rectifying the historical injustice and honoring not only Ruth but all victims of domestic abuse who have been failed by the legal system.

Reflecting on the significance of the pardon, Enston remarked that while it cannot erase the events of 71 years ago or mend the broken lives and lost years, it unequivocally acknowledges the failure of justice in Ruth’s case, a recognition that holds deep meaning for their family.

She recounted Ruth’s ordeal of enduring severe abuse, highlighting the lasting impact on subsequent generations, including her mother and uncle, whose lives were marked by tragedy and deep emotional scars.

Expressing gratitude towards the Justice Secretary for his decisive action, Enston concluded by acknowledging the courage shown in addressing this long-standing injustice.

Ellis fatally shot Blakely on April 10, 1955, leading to her conviction for murder and subsequent execution on July 13, 1955, without any reprieve or appeal.

The plea for a pardon was initiated by four of Ruth Ellis’s grandchildren, emphasizing the profound influence of domestic abuse, trauma, and unacknowledged circumstances during her trial.

The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) highlighted that under contemporary legislation, Ellis could have potentially argued for partial defenses like loss of control or diminished responsibility, which could have altered her conviction from murder to manslaughter if presented in a current trial scenario.