Seventy years after Ruth Ellis was hanged for shooting racing driver David Blakely, four of her six grandchildren have applied to Justice Minister David Lammy for a posthumous pardon. Their lawyers cite evidence that Ellis endured repeated sexual, emotional and physical abuse, including a miscarriage 10 days before the killing, after Blakely punched her, arguing such factors would now point to manslaughter rather than murder. Family members say Ellis was traumatized and failed by a biased system; their counsel adds she should never have been executed. The case’s earlier appeal failed in 2003, but pardons can consider broader fairness.

Prepared by Emily Rhodes and reviewed by editorial team.