Ruth Ellis. What are your thoughts?

In the 20th century 145 women were sentenced to death but only 14 hanged, a reprieve rate of just over 90. Given the trial judge urged for a reprieve it's astonishing one wasn't granted.

90%

I am listening to The Ruth Ellis Files on BBCi Player, reading of witness statements, even the doctor spoke of her peroxide hair , she didn’t stand a chance

She was judged as much for her appearance and life style choices as for the crime.

Although she pleaded 'Not guilty' because she wanted her side of the story to be heard, her evidence in court condemned her and there was no other verdict possible.
The only escape was a reprieve, and it would be interesting to know the reasons why Gwilym Lloyd George rejected it, as he had granted others.

I knew her Dr when I was in London, in my twenties, & he said she should never have been hanged & one major reason was that she was pregnant at the time of the murder & it had affected her mentally. I’ll ever forget our discussion about her - it left a lasting impression.

“ never forget “

Her doctor wasn’t questioned re her miscarriage?

Ruth Ellis was arrested immediately after the killing of Blakely and transferred to the hospital wing of Holloway prison where she was under surveillance day and night. She was not pregnant at the time of the killing, but had suffered a miscarriage recently.

In her defence she testified that “He (David) only hit me with his fist or hands, “I bruise easily.” She also described her recent miscarriage of a two month old foetus: “A few weeks or days previously, I do not know which, David got very violent. I do not know whether that caused the miscarriage or not. He thumped me in the tummy.”

During her initial interview on the Monday afternoon, she again described the details of David’s killing. The Principal Medical Officer, Dr. Mervyn Ralph Penry Williams, examined her and interviewed her twice, finding no evidence of mental illness. Ruth consented to and undertook an electro-encephalograph examination on the 3rd of May. This also failed to find any evidence of brain abnormality. While on remand in Holloway, she was also examined by Dr. D. Whittaker, a psychiatrist for the defence, on June the 4th and by Dr. A. Dalzell on behalf of the Home Office, on the 9th of June. Neither man found any evidence of insanity. Ruth discussed her feelings on the days leading up to and including the murder, with Dr. Dalzell, and he reported to the Home Office that he found no evidence of delusions, hallucinations or other form of mental illness. These examinations were required by law to ensure that Ruth was legally sane and therefore fit to plead at her trial.

Thank you eazybee she did receive medical attention

My thoughts on this are that the death penalty is barbaric and I am glad that it has been abolished. Ruth Ellis should have served a prison sentence, been paroled and lived the rest of her life in peace.

I think she became pregnant again after the miscarriage. All I know is what her Dr told me & apparently that pregnancy wasn’t widely known. I got the impression she was quite sound in mind but obviously being pregnant would have had an effect on her hormones.

Why didn’t that doctor speak out, couldn’t have been patient
confidentiality, he told you? Also would she have sought confirmation of a pregnancy so soon ?

What I find particularly horrible is the scrupulous care extended to people under sentence of death with regard to their health, to ensure they don't die, or commit suicide, before the sentence can be carried out.
Women under sentence of death have always been checked to see if they were pregnant (Lady Jane Grey had to undergo a humiliating examination before her execution in the Tower to check she was not with child).

Yes, If there was a pregnancy two lives would be taken,