King Charles granted a conditional posthumous pardon on Wednesday, July 8, 2026, to Ruth Ellis, the last woman executed in the United Kingdom.
The pardon commutes her 1955 death sentence to life imprisonment.
Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy announced the executive decision in the House of Commons. It follows decades of legal campaigns by Ellis's family.
Ellis was hanged at age 28 for killing her partner, David Blakely.
The historical conviction stems from an April 10, 1955 incident where she shot him outside The Magdala pub in Hampstead, London.
The relationship was marked by severe domestic abuse.
The trial at the Old Bailey on June 20, 1955, saw the jury deliberate for 20 minutes before delivering a guilty verdict with a mandatory death sentence.
"While the pardon does not claim she was innocent of killing David Blakely, it replaces the death penalty with a sentence of life imprisonment to recognise a profound injustice in this exceptional case," Lammy said.
The government official noted that the formal mercy acknowledges the systemic failure regarding the severe physical abuse and coercive control Ellis endured.
"We hope this brings a measure of peace to Ruth Ellis' family, who have carried the weight of what happened to her for over 70 years," he added.
The parliamentary announcement followed a formal request raised during the session by an elected representative.
Pam Cox, Labour MP for Colchester, highlighted the historical significance of the domestic violence context.
"Ruth Ellis was the last woman to be executed in this country," Cox said.
She emphasized that the trial took place two years before the British legal system introduced diminished responsibility as a defense.
"Her case serves as a haunting reminder of a time when our justice system ignored the realities of domestic abuse and coercive control," Cox added.
Supporters previously launched multiple failed clearance attempts in 2003 and 2007, alongside an early 50,000-signature petition to the Home Office.
The case heavily influenced the public movement against capital punishment, contributing to the eventual suspension of the death penalty across Britain in 1965.
During the 1955 trial, prosecutor Christmas Humphreys asked Ellis a single question regarding her intent. "It's obvious when I shot him I intended to kill him," she replied.
The execution was carried out at 9:01 a. m.
on July 13, 1955, by hangman Albert Pierrepoint at Holloway Prison. Ellis was buried in an unmarked grave.
Laura Enston, Ellis's granddaughter, said: "We are determined to do what we can to right this historic injustice and honour not only Ruth but all victims of domestic abuse who have been let down by the criminal justice system."
