Ruth Ellis
FameRank: 4

"Ruth Ellis" was the last woman to be executed in the United Kingdom, after being convicted of the murder of her lover, David Blakely.

From a humble background, Ellis was drawn into the world of London nightclub hostessing, which led to a chaotic life of brief relationships, some of them with upper-class nightclubbers and celebrities. Two of these were Blakely, a racing driver already engaged to another woman, and Desmond Cussen, a retail company director.

On Easter Sunday 1955, Ellis shot Blakely dead outside the Magdala public house in Hampstead, and immediately gave herself up to the police. At her trial, she took full responsibility for the murder and her courtesy and composure, both in court and in the cells, was noted in the press. She was hanged at Holloway Prison.

More Ruth Ellis on Wikipedia.

It is obvious that when I shot him I intended to kill him.

I did not defend myself. I say a life for a life.

You won't hear anything from me that says I didn't kill David. I did kill him.

My life has been nothing special. I am a quiet person who came from a very ordinary, middle-class Negro family.