Original subtitles

The pay-all about the scene is based on the trial of a murder case and treats the facts

of violent death as Frank Thursday were treated in the original court.

Details of the trial have been condensed from contemporary sources but scenes outside the

courtroom are a mixture of fact and conjecture.

On the 10th of April Easter Sunday 1955 a young woman called Ruth Ellis shot down her

lover David Blakeley in a London street.

The newspapers shouted, blonde model shoots racing driver dead and Ruth Ellis' post

portrait smiled out from their pages.

A straightforward case of simple murder, Ruth Ellis stated, I'm guilty and she was sent

on remand to Holloway Prison.

Ellis, Mr. Blake was waiting to see you.

Mrs. Ellis you ask to speak to me.

You frigging idiots!

Whatever's the matter.

I'll give you not guilty.

I want to plead guilty because I am.

I don't want defending.

You're not being fair.

We have to try to save your life.

Is this what you wanted to say?

Mr. Blake Finn, please sit down.

Would you collect my black suit from the flat?

One with the estu can collar and have it cleaned and sent in.

And how many more outfits will I need?

I have no idea Mrs. Ellis.

It looks like being rather a short trial.

No.

There are some more things I need to know.

After you lost the baby Mrs. Ellis what doctor did you see?

I don't want all that said in court.

It's very important.

I'm not making any excuses.

I was perfectly sane besides that would be too hard on David.

He's hardly likely to complain.

And your taxi driver hasn't come forward.

Now who drove you there truly?

And was it the same person that gave you the gun?

Look, if I feel that you're shielding someone you can't expect the jury to believe you.

Oh, but they will.

And when I want you to know something or tell you, I want my story told and that's all.

Make a very good film, don't you think?

You're about to go on trial for your life.

What about your family?

Your parents, your children for God's sake.

They must be provided with the best.

I don't want saving.

I'm sorry.

How else can I be with David?

No, shit.

If we were on the continent, you'd get up with probation.

But this is England.

So can we any time, if the change of mind.

Mr. Lippmann.

Yes.

They won't let me read what's being said about me.

They've cut it out of my newspapers.

Can't you stop them?

Please.

You are my solicitor.

Goodbye.

Well, I'm Mr. Beckford.

I'd like to save me so I can rot in prison until I'm old and unglue.

Which I could be nice at home.

Well, you might try.

What's your name?

Baker.

Baker.

Mine's Ruth, by the way.

Ellis, the governor's here.

Stand up for the governor.

Hello.

Oh, hey, Mrs. Ellis.

Jesus, just right?

From Desmond again.

Seems he really loves me, doesn't he?

Well, you certainly have some devoted friends.

And here are the shoes you ask for.

You better give them a try.

They've done our best.

Very small.

Thanks.

Oh.

Aren't they complete?

Not quite.

Maybe.

Still elegant, all the same.

No, I like them too much.

And by the way, you may have your hair beached for the trial.

Oh, Angel, I'd die if I look like that.

Your own hairdresser will send in the bleach with instructions.

An officer can do it for you.

Dr. Taylor, thanks.

Edna, that's my name.

Edna, would you bleach my hair for me?

Letting my tesolica burst.

The trial of Ruth Ellis was to draw large crowds.

They were fascinated and horrified by her glamorous and unrepented appearance.

She was a girl who had risen from humble origins in the heroic days of Clark Gable and Madeleine Monroe.

Her career as a nightclub hostess aroused great interest.

And so did the fact soon to emerge in evidence that she had two lovers, one of whom she shot dead.

Here in court number one at the Old Bailey, the Ruth Ellis trial opened on June the 20th, 1955.

The hearing was still last less than two days.

In the drama that follows, Ruth's trial in the events afterwards have been distilled.

How many friends you've cared, for our purposes, you'll become one fictitious character.

Events are included which might have happened.

Those who saw a newly fellas, like spectators to any drama, each selected their viewpoint individually.

And each has added their own colours of time to memory.

On that Monday morning the court was crowded,

extraciting had been provided for the international press.

Mr Justice Havers presided.

Mr Christmas Humphreys led for the crown.

Melford Stevenson Q. Thie led for the defence.

And Ruth Ellis sat resplendently blonde in the dock listening as Desmond Pazin,

also her lover, gave evidence against her.

In October 1953 I became a close friend of Mrs Ellis.

You won't mind if we use plain words. Were you her lover at some time?

For a short time, around June 1954.

Had David Blakely then broken with her?

No, he was away racing at Lamar for about a week.

What happened when he came back?

Well, he went on seeing her, being very friendly.

Did you live with Mrs Ellis at one time?

Around Christmas 1954, she stopped working at the little club.

She came to stay with me for about two months.

And then what happened in February?

She moved to live at 44 Edgerton Gardens with David Blakely.

Did you see her while she lived there?

Yes.

And did she continue to visit you at your flat?

Yes.

Let us move to Good Friday. Did you carry out a favour for Mrs Ellis?

Shortly after midnight, I drove her to 29 Tansa Road, Hampstead.

Anthony Finley to his home.

Why was that?

But she thought David Blakely was there.

And what happened when you arrived?

We parked the car a little way down the road.

She went to the house to try and speak to Blakely.

And did you wait for her?

Yes. For about three quarters of her now.

And when she came back, she...

Yes.

She said that Mr. Finley wouldn't let her speak to Blakely.

And she'd made a noise and pushed in the glass to break his car windows.

And they'd call the police to her.

On the all-important day, Easter Sunday, 1955,

did Mrs Ellis and her son spend most of the day with you at your flat?

Yes, they did.

And that evening, did you drive her back to her home?

Yes. At about 7.30.

7.30 on Sunday evening.

That was the last you saw of Mrs Ellis.

Yes.

I later heard that she'd been arrested and charged with murdering David Blakely.

I have no further question.

Mr. Stevenson?

You've told the jury that you and the young woman were lovers in June 1954.

Is that right?

Yes.

Whilst Blakely was away, motor racing in France?

Yes.

Mr. Cousin, were you very much in love with this young woman?

I was terribly fond of her at that time.

Yes.

Did she tell you from time to time that she would like to get away from Blakely, but couldn't?

Yes.

At the same time, she repeatedly went back to him.

Yes.

Whilst you were begging her to marry you, if she could.

Yes.

And most of all, he's wished he could disappear one way or the other.

Yes.

He hadn't even asked you whether you hated David.

Was it last that you had to go easy?

Well, what could you do?

I was in an occasion when I was taking her to a dance.

When was that?

February the 25th.

This year, 1955?

Yes, my Lord.

When I was taking her to a dance?

Yes.

Mr. Stevenson?

Did you help her to disguise bruises on her shoulders?

Yes.

They were very bad bruises.

They needed heavy maker.

No, I don't want to press you for details, but how often did you see those kind of marks on Mrs. Ellis?

On about half a dozen occasions.

Whilst she was living with David Blakely?

Yes.

And did you once take her to the Middlesex Hospital for treatment?

Yes.

Whilst she was living with me, I came home and found she was very badly bruised all over her body.

And I lost the baby.

Pitting it all poor out of me and draining away.

It was like hope went to, wouldn't it?

The baby was gone.

Oh.

I hope yours satisfied my friend.

My friend.

And it wasn't up to scratch, was I? Not ever.

We were close friends, David and I.

We were working together building a racing car.

We often went to the races.

And sometimes with Ellis came along.

Mr. Finlay, would you tell the court what happened on the 9th of January this year?

Yes, I went to a flat where David was.

Ruth Ellis was there.

David asked me if I could help him to leave her.

She was there when he said it.

What was her reaction to that?

Oh, some sarcastic remark.

I forget exactly.

About his needing helped to leave her.

In the end, David went off by himself.

Oh, let us move to the Easter weekend.

What happened on the evening of Good Friday?

Mrs. Ellis called my home.

She asked if David was with me.

And was he?

Yes, he'd come to stay for the holiday.

David asked me to say that he wasn't there, so I did.

And what happened next?

About two in the morning, David woke me up.

Ruth Ellis was ringing our doorbell and making a hell of a din.

And was pushing in the windows of David's car.

I had to call the police.

They got rid of her.

Later that night, she returned and the police sent her away again.

Did anything happen on the Saturday with Mrs. Ellis?

David and I had to get the windows of the car repaired.

While we were at the garage, she phoned there.

She traced us.

Somehow, naturally, I hung up at once.

And would you describe what happened on the Easter Sunday?

Yes, I had some friends around the evening.

We were running out of beer, so David Blakely went to fetch some more.

That was the last time I was so alive.

Thank you.

Mr. Stevenson?

Mr. Finlow, where you financially dependent on the ten pounds per hour?

Which David Blakely was paying you for your work on the racing car?

Yes, that's right, yes.

Thank you.

On good Friday, when Mrs. Ellis telephoned, did you lie to her in saying that David Blakely was not with you?

That's right, yes.

During the night, she pushed in the windows of Blakely's car.

She put such pressure on them that they came out of their seatings.

That is what happened?

Yes.

What a push.

The windows out of their rubber seatings.

Is it right to say you would have to exert great pressure?

No.

That's a good shove, Sir Dirt. Not a great deal of pressure.

No, I don't know, right? How many did she push out?

Three, I think.

Well, was it quite plain to you when you spoke to her on the telephone that Ruth Ellis was in a desperate state of emotion?

No.

What?

I said no.

I mean, she was quite calm.

You really mean that?

She simply rang me up and she'd done hundreds of times before to ask me where David was.

It was just a telephone conversation.

I know it was just a telephone conversation.

Just bear in mind what she said and the way she said it and the fact that she afterwards pushed out those windows.

Did you observe no indication of her being a very desperate woman at that time?

No. No indication at all.

What a change of memory world. We're making a difference in what I say or don't say.

Nobody's being asked the right questions.

Well, who will earn me next?

Oh, oh, oh.

That's whereby I will mighty guard the evidence I give to a little bit of capture.

My husband and I left home at around nine o'clock.

We strode quietly towards our local party.

Having just received some upsetting family news, we hoped and expected to have a peaceful drink together.

Yes. What happened?

We reached Parliament Hill and South End Road Corner.

Suddenly there was pandemonium, several explosions, shots being fired.

A man shouted.

I felt a searing pain in my right hand.

And what did you do?

I dropped my handbag.

I saw that my hand was bleeding.

Badly.

Fortunately, a cab came by.

Yes.

When he saw the blood the cab he tried to make off, but my husband was quick off the mark.

Even so, I had to stick my hand out of the window as we drove to Hampstead General Hospital.

A bullet had fractured the first metacarpal bone at the base of my thumb.

They say my right hand will be partly crippled for life.

She didn't give a damn. She could have killed an innocent passerby.

Thank you, Mrs. Hill.

Mrs. Stevenson?

I have no questions for this witness, my honor.

We will adjourn to lunch and reconvene at 2 p.m.

Time to go, Mrs. Hill is the court starting again.

Oh, I haven't got to the star bridge yet.

It's your defence that's waiting.

I know.

Mr. Stevenson?

Members of the jury.

It cannot happen often.

I'm not sure.

I'm not sure.

I'm not sure.

I'm not sure.

I'm not sure.

I'm not sure.

I'm sure.

It cannot happen often in this court that in a case of this importance

fraught with such deep significance for the accused

and the whole of the prosecution story passes without any challenge from the defence.

Now, let me make this abundantly claimed.

There is no question here but that this woman shot the man.

She is charged with murder.

But one of the ingredients in that offence is what lawyers call malice.

And the law of England in its mercy provided that if a person in the position of this unhappy young woman

has been the subject of such emotional disturbance operating upon her mind,

so as for the time being to unseat her judgement,

to inhibit and cut off those senses which ordinarily control our conduct.

And then it is open to you, the jury, to say that the offence of which she is guilty is not the offence of murder.

But of manslaughter.

You will observe that she is now a calm and undisturbed person.

That you have got to try and put yourselves in the situation in which she found herself during that Easter weekend.

When this man, whom she needed as one of the fundamental requirements of her existence,

having shortly before amended his conduct, renewed his attentions and so behaved that she held every hope for the future,

then went away and chose to consort with these rather odd people in Hampstead the whole weekend.

It was in those circumstances.

I am driven to a frenzy which for the time being unseated her understanding.

And that she committed this crime.

Now there are dozens of cases in which the courts have considered this matter which is called provocation.

But never before has any court had to consider a case in which the defence relies upon jealousy

and such a state of mind as constituting this defence of provocation.

The members of the jury when you have heard her, you may take the undoubted view that this young woman was so provoked

and by the suffering she was enduring at the hands of this man.

That her judgement was unseated and that malice was absent.

So that you can perfectly properly return a verdict of manslaughter.

Now this will depend upon the view you take of this girl.

When you see her here in the witness box, I call the defence Mrs. Ruth Evans.

She's just a typical blonde tart.

Take the book in your right hand and read the words on the card out loud.

I swear by O'Mighty God, the evidence I shall give shall be the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.

Mrs. Ellis, what is your marital status?

My marriage has been deserved. I have two children, a boy of ten, a girl of three and a half.

Will you tell us how you first met David Blakely?

It was in the middle of 1953 while I was working at Carol's Club.

And I moved and I became manager of the little club in Knightsbridge.

I met him again there in August.

I came in and come and live with you in your flat over the club.

Yes.

At that time, how was his behaviour towards you?

He seemed very concerned, very devoted to me.

Yeah, of course. It was more a fair opinion.

Yes.

At that time, we very much in love with him.

No, brother.

Well, as time went on, how did he show his feelings for you?

That December, I found out I was pregnant by him.

In February, I had an abortion.

He seemed very concerned about me.

Although he was already engaged, he offered to marry me.

But I didn't want to take advantage.

I thought I could get out of the mess quite easily.

What mess?

I thought I could get out of the mess quite easily.

Do you mean the child?

Yes.

Without him marrying you?

Yes.

It seems to him.

Did you, in fact, get out of the trouble in February 1954?

That's correct.

You had an abortion.

Yes.

Mrs. Seaman...

Did you know Blakely was engaged?

Yes.

I did not take our affairs seriously at first.

But it continued, until last summer.

Yes.

And David went away racing at Le Mans.

He stayed away longer than he should have.

Which I began in the fair with Desmond Cousin.

Helping, Apple Dan, the affair with David.

And did the relationship finish?

No.

David returned and got rather jealous.

So he kept quiet about Desmond.

And he began again with David.

And who was in assistance?

David's in assistance.

And did you try to avoid that happening, Mrs. Ellis?

It was very difficult.

I was running a business.

And he was always hanging around in the bar.

And he was spending money in my bar.

I couldn't tell him to go away because he was a customer.

Was there a night when the question of marriage cropped up between you?

Yes.

I always made a marriage.

How about when was that?

When was that?

I can't remember the exact date.

Maybe mid-July.

He broke an office engagement and he said he'd never have any happiness unless we got married.

And then what happened to your feelings for him?

Well, he seemed rather a likable person.

And got rather attached to him.

Did you think you could trust him?

He had given me reason not to.

A night in bed.

I saw love bites.

All of his shoulders.

I went quite cold with shock.

I told him to go away forever.

He did not like that, but he went.

And he kept coming back.

He was very upset.

He went down on his knees.

And he said, I'm sorry, darling.

I do love you.

Please forgive me.

I love you.

I'll prove it to you.

Please marry me.

I said I didn't think your parents would agree to that.

He said then we could get married secretly.

Were proceedings going on to dissolve your marriage?

Yes. I decided to stop defending myself.

Not to claim any maintenance.

And to give up my daughter.

Because you were going to marry David?

Yes, and it went through.

Why was David Blakely's financial situation?

After he broke off the engagement, he's in rather short of money.

Racing cars are very expensive.

And it wasn't earning any.

So, I paid the rent.

And did you help him in other ways?

Yes. I gave him money.

I bought his clothes, cigarettes.

I gave my bar made instructions that if he came into the bar,

he was to be allowed to drink without paying.

He used to eat there too.

I would pay.

And when we went out.

Now, in October 1954, how did he treat you physically?

He was violent on occasions.

What sort of violence?

It was always because of jealousy about my work in the bar.

And when we got upstairs, he only used to hit me with his fists and his hands.

And Bruce very easily.

So, he was full of bruises or many occasions.

Now, when he complained and exhibited this jealousy, how did you take that?

Often, I'd ask him to go and not come back.

I don't know if I really meant it.

And never went anywhere.

And so it continued.

Now, what happened in December?

I left my job at the little club, hoping that would end the affair with David and I.

I moved in with Desmond Carson.

And what was David Blake's attitude to that?

He didn't like me living with Desmond.

And on Christmas evening, he came round to the flat and there was a scene.

In February this year, was there another scene?

Yes. Yes, we've been drinking quite a lot.

I spray my ankle. I got lots of bruises and the black eye.

I think David realized he'd gone too far.

It was really hurt.

Yeah, and next day did Mr. Cousin take you to the Middlesex Hospital where your injuries were treated?

Yes.

And after this blak, did he send you carnations?

Yes.

What's this card in first?

Yes.

Please read it.

Sorry, darling. Love you, David.

Did you make up the quarrel?

Yes.

I took the flat at Edgerton Gardens.

And David came to live with me there.

And was there some trouble between you shortly afterwards?

Yes, yes.

You've been seeing another woman.

I kept watch one night.

We tried to conceal their fare.

And then what happened? Your feelings?

The tables had been turned.

Before, he'd been jealous of me.

Now it was my turn to be jealous of him.

How did you react?

I told him we were finished.

But after a week, you returned.

Why did you take him back?

Of course I was in love with him.

In March, did you find that you were pregnant?

Yes.

And at the end of March, what happened about that pregnancy?

Well, we'd had a fight a few days previously.

Can't remember the exact time.

David was very, very violent.

I didn't know whether that caused him this carriage.

He didn't thump him.

And that was followed by a miscarriage.

Yes.

When he first knew he were pregnant, how had he reacted?

Well, he seemed to want me to have the child at first.

Later he changed.

You're not holding court now?

I'll carry on like this and I'll eat you alive.

He blamed me for his bad luck in the races.

And it was not feeling well.

I was not feeling well.

I was not feeling well.

He was staying out late with friends of the steering wheel club.

How did you feel about that?

Nothing but contempt for him.

Now, on the Wednesday night, before the fatal Easter,

did he come home early?

Yes.

And was there any change in his behaviour towards you?

Well, he seemed entirely different again.

He was very happy.

He was a disgust marriage.

And he hoped to go and race at Le Mans this summer.

And he had a photo taken.

And he brought me an enlargement of it.

And if you write on this photograph in your presence.

Yes.

To Ruth.

To my love.

David.

Is this the photograph?

Is this the photograph?

Yes.

My lord, I wonder if she could sit down.

Yes, says it.

I don't want to sit down.

Do by all means.

No, it's quite alright.

Mrs. Stevenson.

Did he stay in?

Did he stay in that evening all night?

Yes.

Yes.

We're very happy.

We discussed his problems with money.

And he was afraid he'd have to sell his racing car.

Oh, it seems such a shame.

He'd been building it.

But he said,

if you can find me 400 pounds,

we only have to send.

Now, on Easter Thursday,

the service, what did you do?

He went to the cinema.

He was ever attentive to me.

I was rather annoyed.

It was a jolly good phone.

Did you plan to be together over the Easter weekend?

Yes.

We were going to take Andy out, my son.

Mr. Blakely was very, very fond of my son.

And we would take him motor racing on Easter Monday.

Now, in the morning of Good Friday, what happened?

David left me at about 10,

and he was going to meet Anthony Finley, too.

He was still getting on very well.

And he planned to come back and collect me about 8,

and we'd go and have drinks at Anthony's flat.

And did he come back?

No.

I waited for two hours.

I found Mr. Finley,

and I said, Anthony,

there's David with you.

You see there?

He said no.

I said, I'm very worried about him.

He hasn't got back.

Do you think he's all right?

Mr. Finley?

Oh, he's all right.

But he said it while the cock ears, though.

I didn't quite know how to describe it.

What was your reaction?

I was furious.

We had planned to spend the weekend together.

It was not feeling very well.

I found Mr. Cutsman, and I told him about it.

And he drove me to Hampstead,

and I saw that David's car was outside, Mr. Finley, it was flat.

And what did you do?

I was a little bit nervous.

I was a little nervous.

I was a little nervous.

What did you do?

I rang and rang the doorbell.

They would not answer.

I tell a firm from Starbucks,

but they put the receiver down.

I was absolutely furious.

I think that David was behaving so stupidly.

I wanted David to go and jump in the lake, do something silly.

I went back to the flat,

and I heard a woman there, giggling.

What did you do next?

I was feeling just

in a rather peculiar mood.

Not in a nasty mood.

Just to make them open the door.

So I pushed the windows out of David's car,

without breaking them, just to make a noise.

And the police arrived, and eventually I went home.

And what sort of night did you have?

I didn't sleep.

I was just smoking.

I was still in the temper.

And I was very, very upset.

I think that David was behaving so disgustingly now.

And I was not very well.

How did you spend Easter Saturday?

Watching Mr. Finlay just flat?

Make a typical jealous woman, I suppose.

And in the evening they had a party there.

They had voices.

You had voices?

Yes.

I heard David's voice and a woman giggling a lot.

I had an idea of somebody I knew.

Did you see anyone come in or out that night?

At about half past nine, David and Mr. Finlay

came out with a woman.

Great to meet you.

Yes.

A woman was very young when she had dark hair.

And her David said to her,

let me put my arm around you for support.

And they went away.

And they came back about two hours later.

And the party was still going on.

And you had remained there watching?

Yes.

Why don't you tell him?

Let him know what it was like, Ruth.

Crazy with jealousy out of your mind on them pills,

bloody drunk on Purnow.

Sick after losing his baby.

Can't they even see?

It's just a silly side.

But only bother him.

What's happening?

David was up to his usual tricks.

Having an affair with a new attraction.

Again, what sort of night did you have?

I didn't sleep again.

It was very, very upset.

Next morning, Easter Sunday.

Did you telephone the flat once more?

Yes.

At about nine o'clock.

Anthony Finlay the answer.

And what did you say?

I think I said, help your having an enjoyable holiday.

Because you ruined mine.

Did you remain in your flat?

Until lunchtime, yes.

And Mr. Cousin picked me up in my son to go and eat at his flat.

He still expected David to phone me.

And he did not?

No.

How did you spend the afternoon?

Completely forgotten.

The song was with us.

And we amused him somehow.

And I put him to bed at 7.30.

And there was still no message from David Blakely.

No.

You have returned to your flat by now.

Yes.

I see him, Mrs. Simpson.

What did you do next?

I'm sitting very, very upset.

I had a peculiar idea. I wanted to kill him.

You had what?

I had a peculiar idea. I wanted to kill him.

Yes, and we have had evidence in your statement to the police that you then...

I took a revolver up to Amsterdam, shot him. Is that right?

Quite correct.

Why did you do it?

It's not really now.

I mean quite seriously. I was just very, very upset.

I do not really know why I shot him. Is that right?

Yes.

I was very upset. Yes.

Mr. Simpson?

When you say you had a peculiar idea you wanted to kill him, were you able to control it?

No.

And then you went up in fact and shot him. Is that right?

That's correct.

You sound pleased?

Yes.

You see, I'm sorry.

You sound pleased?

Mrs. Ellis, when you fired that revolver at close range in the body of David Blakely, what did you intend to do?

It's obvious. When I shot him, I intended to kill him.

Thank you.

Robis silencing court. Mrs. Ellis, you may return to the dock.

The jury was sent out, whilst a matter of law was discussed by council and the judge.

Which was whether a defense of provocation by jealousy might justify a verdict of manslaughter.

Mr. Justice Haver's adjourned the court until the following morning, whilst he considered.

Ruth Ellis's trial was now virtually over, after a single day.

It was one of the shortest murder trials in history, and one of the most strangely balanced.

Was Ruth pleased with the day's work, that she rested overnight in her cell?

In the morning, the judge ruled that jealousy was no defense.

I am constrained to rule, that there is not sufficient evidence for a reasonable jury to form the view that a reasonable person, sober vote, could be driven through a transported passion and loss of self-control, to the degree, and method, and continuance of violence which produced death.

It is therefore impossible for me to speak further for the defense.

In the second sentence, I have nothing to say.

Members of the jury, you must have no thoughts of sympathy either for the man or for the accused.

There was a young woman, and you may think, a young woman badly treated by the deceased.

You will arrive at your verdict fearlessly, with no thought of the consequences solely on the whole of the evidence you have heard.

Mrs. Ellis is charged with murder, which in our law is the unlawful killing of one person by another with malice.

Now, what is meant by malice is this.

The formation of an intent to kill or to do grievous bodily harm.

Long premeditation is unnecessary.

Bear in mind that six shots were fired from a Smith and Westin revolver, three or four into the body of Blakely, and one at very close range.

Mrs. Ellis has explained in a statement how she was given the revolver three years before by some man as security for a loan, and later how she took the gun and shot Blakely.

In her statement, she said, I thought I had missed him, so I fired again.

I am about to tell you that even if you accept the full evidence of this woman, it does not seem to me to establish any sort of defense to the charge of murder.

Now, this court is not a court of morals. You will not allow your judgment to be swayed because she was having relationships with two persons simultaneously.

If you are left in reasonable doubt whether at the time they accuse father shots, she intended to kill or to do grievous bodily harm, you will find her guilty of manslaughter.

If, on the consideration of the whole evidence, you are satisfied that when she fired those shots, she had the intention of killing or of doing grievous bodily harm, when your duty is to find her guilty of willful murder.

Will you now retire and consider your verdict?

Members of the jury, will your foreman please stand? Mr. Foreman of the jury, are you agreed upon your verdict?

We are.

Do you find the prisoner at the bar, Ruth Ellis, guilty or not guilty of the murder of David Blakely?

Guilty.

You find her guilty, and that is the verdict of your...

It is.

Prisoner at the bar. You stand convicted of murder. Have you anything to say before judgment of death is passed according to law?

Ruth Ellis, the jury had convicted you of murder. In my view, it was the only verdict possible.

The sentence of the court upon you is that you be taken hence to a lawful prison and thence to a place of execution, and that you there be hanged by the neck until you be dead, and that your body be buried within the precincts of the prison, within which you shall last have been confined before your execution, and may the Lord have mercy upon your soul.

Amen.

It was from here. The execution suite in Holloway Prison, that prisoner 9656 Ellis made her last journey on Tuesday, June the 21st, 1955.

By tradition, she would not be executed until three Sundays had elapsed.

She was confined here, only a few feet away from the execution room itself. She was kept in comfort and in excellent health, provided with amusements, carefully nourished and closely guarded.

Please bring me a lethal dose of poison, as I do not want to reprieve.

Your friend Miss Martin's here again.

Oh, good.

When do you see if she gets her but, man?

Right. It was a Johnny Good.

Ruth, please.

Bobbie, darling.

Oh, how sweet.

Smoked just like a real garden.

Brought you a chocolate cake. Let me give it to you though, would they?

Ah, well, they're concerned.

My good health.

Ruth, are you going to appeal?

You never said you was booed and not doped to the eyeballs.

Can't we call you Doctor Hidney? You were sick from losing the baby.

Not so good, Friday. I was pretty low.

I had them singing mass on the wireless world. I knew the baby hadn't died for nothing.

I prayed.

Do you know, Bobbie? I prayed he'd come out of that door when I had the gun.

Just then he did.

I shot him.

That frigging gun hadn't stuck.

What do you mean?

Bullet number six was for me.

About the gun.

Look, I've moved your stuff from place to place, because I know you didn't have no gun of your own.

All right, tell me where it was hidden then.

I didn't remember.

Who gave it to you?

Who drove you there?

I don't remember. Anyway, what difference would it make?

Look, there's thousands of people signing petitions. We sent out thousands to save you.

There's a big meeting tonight. I've seen my MP. I've even written to the home secretary.

Darling, Bobbie, are you writing to the home secretary?

Thanks.

Anyway.

The point is none of them know.

I was only kidding you.

Oh, you're a liar, Ruthie.

You cheer up, darling.

I gave David lots of rope and I was giving me some.

You feel okay now? You'll change your mind when it's too late. You love life, Ruthie. I know you too well.

A life for a life. That's what I say. I meant to be with David.

Well, maybe the home secretary will muck it up and reprieve you.

No.

Don't be sad, my darling.

Give them more kisses from me, won't you?

I'm not just going to leave it like this, you know.

Ruth.

There's been a message from the home office. I'm afraid the law must take its course.

I'm happy about that. Really? Thank you.

Everybody is being simply wonderful. Staff in Holloway.

Doctor Taylor, will they blindfold me?

Yes. Yes, they will.

Mr. Michel, how very kind of you to come.

I'm pleased you're back looking after me again.

I'm only too glad, Mrs. Ellis. Thank you.

How are you?

Never been better. Did you bring the will?

Yes. It's already for your signature.

There, please.

Thanks.

Would you mind?

And you, please.

Thank you.

Thanks. I feel easier now.

Mrs. Ellis, do you really want things to go the way they're going?

I don't really care. I think it's only further that my life should be taken.

I don't know.

I don't really care. I think it's only further that my life should be taken. I have to pay.

Yes. I think I can understand how you feel.

Oh, I was having a word with Mr. Rogers. And with your friend, Miss Martin.

George Rogers is looking after your son, I believe.

Yes. So sweet of him to give Andy a holiday and in the country too?

Yes.

You see, Andy's going to grow up reading about it, isn't he?

Everyone's version, but your own. He'll be haunted by whatever lies are around after you're dead.

He's busy.

Soon he won't have a mother. He'll be on his own.

Ah, but he'll be well looked after.

Don't you owe it to your son to leave behind you a record of the truth?

I think it's absolutely traitorous. Just traitorous.

I don't want to get anybody else into trouble. One life is enough.

Anyway, I suppose they'll find out the truth after I've gone.

Yes. So will you tell me?

No.

You promise. You promise not to use it to try and save me.

I won't do anything without your permission.

All right, all right.

I wrote thellas.

I have been advised by Mr. Victor Michcon to tell the whole truth.

The greatest reluctance.

On that Sunday evening I was drinking and I was with...

And we were drinking Pano.

Pano? That was banned in France. Did he encourage you to drink that?

I don't know. I don't know.

We were very drunk. We were talking a lot about David.

Yes, gone.

Well, I remember it. He gave me the gun. It was loaded.

I don't remember too clearly what he said. I rushed out at once with the gun and he stayed in the flat.

What do you read it through?

Is it all right?

Oh, you better know all of it.

I ran back to him and said, well, you drive me to Hampstead. And he did.

Please.

Thank you.

Mrs. Ellis, tomorrow is very near.

I want you to allow me to take this statement to the home office.

It is my duty to notify the authorities of the truth.

Can, if you want.

I should know what happened.

He also took me to Evan Forest in the afternoon and as well.

He took me out to fire the gun.

Is there anything else?

No, no.

Tell to the truth, no.

Oh, but who would believe a lady like me?

I'll be back.

Goodbye.

Goodbye.

What will you do this evening, Edna?

Oh, paint the town red.

See my mum.

What will you do?

Look, cook a meal for the tour.

Listen to the wireless.

Well, we won't do anything much.

She's been poorly, you know.

Sorry.

Heart's not too good.

Well, she'll be 68 in September.

She's a Libram.

Oh.

She's the same as me.

What's in them?

Rose.

Rose.

Yeah.

Why don't you give her these?

They're so pretty.

Gone, Edna.

Oh, but I couldn't.

Oh, no.

Of course not.

Flowers from the condemned cell.

Mm, charming, them short.

She'd love them.

Such beautiful roses.

Thanks very much.

Thanks, all right.

Do have a good evening.

Thanks.

Goodbye, Mrs. Ellis.

Bye, hopefully.

Oh, will you be here in the morning?

Yes.

Yes.

I'll be back.

I'll be back.

I'll be back.

I'll be back.

I'll be back.

I'll be back.

I'll be back.

I'll be back.

I'll be back.

Yes, sir.

Mm.

Loved evenings?

Yes.

My sisters on shift work as well.

I'll be so pleased when it's tomorrow.

Lucky Lucky 13.

Oh, no.

You know.

Please.

I don't want to fly.

I don't want to fly.

I don't want to fly.

Don't touch me! Don't touch me!

Please, I won't live.

Oh God! Please let me live.

God please please!

I didn't want any more visitors.

I didn't want anything else.

Brought him.

I'm feeling well that tired now.

Are they upsetting you, love? All that shouting?

Something old. Something new. Something borrowed.

I don't know. I think I might borrow that clip from all here.

Yes.

Thanks.

It's on the house with the compliments of the governor.

I'm going to go to the house with you.

Are you ready, Ruth? Yes, I'm ready.

Ruth Ellis was hanged in a holiday prison

at 9am on Wednesday the 13th of July 1955.

She was the last woman in Britain ever to be executed.

While Ruth was waiting in the condemned cell,

a woman in Corsica was convicted of the premeditated murder of her lover

and was immediately released with a suspended sentence of two years in jail.

The public outcry over the Ruth Ellis case

led to the increasing growth of the abolitionist movement

and to the suspension of capital punishment.

The law is now set to the

law of the law of the

law of the law of the

law of the law of the

law of the law of the

law of the law of the

law.