Killer nightclub hostess’s deadly love affair with race car driver was ‘eye for an eye’: author

Ruth Ellis: A Life Marked by Tragedy and Injustice

Ruth Ellis, a name that echoes through the annals of British history as the last woman hanged for murder, lived a life that was as tumultuous as it was tragic. Her story, marked by abuse, resilience, and a fatal act of violence, has resurfaced 70 years later, sparking renewed debate on justice and societal bias. A new drama series, "A Cruel Love: The Ruth Ellis Story," delves into her life, offering a poignant narrative that challenges the conventional portrayal of Ellis as a jealous murderer. Based on Carol Ann Lee’s meticulous research, the series unveils a woman driven by desperation and a twisted sense of justice, rather than mere hysteria.

A Turbulent Upbringing and the Quest for Glamour

Born into a shadows of abuse, Ruth’s early life was a canvas of pain. Her father’s sexual abuse and the family’s frequent relocations to avoid suspicion set the stage for a childhood devoid of stability. Determined to escape poverty, Ruth became a teenage mother, only to be abandoned by her partner, a married Canadian soldier. This abandonment propelled her into a world of struggle, where she navigated single parenthood and economic hardship. Her aspiration for glamour led her to bleach her hair like Hollywood icons and immerse herself in London’s vivacious nightlife, eventually becoming a nude model and a figure in the city’s underbelly.

The Rise of a Nightclub Queen and a Fateful Encounter

Ruth’s journey from the fringes of society to the pinnacle of London’s nightclub scene is a testament to her resilience. As the proprietor of a club frequented by Hollywood stars and royalty, she epitomized glamour and strength. Yet, her personal life remained a battleground. Her marriage to George Johnston Ellis, marked by violence and doubt over their child’s paternity, ended in dissolution. It was amidst this chaos that she met David Blakely, a race car driver whose charm masking a darker reality. Their relationship, intense and obsessive, quickly unraveled into a cycle of abuse and betrayal.

A Descent into Violence and Tragedy

The relationship with Blakely became Ruth’s undoing. His abuse, both physical and emotional, exacerbated by her affair with Desmond Cussen, painted a picture of a woman trapped in a vicious cycle. The miscarriage induced by Blakely’s violence was the final straw. On Easter Sunday 1955, Ruth confronted Blakely outside a pub, firing six shots that ended his life. Her calm demeanor upon surrendering, and her enigmatic statement, "It’s the end for both of us," highlighted a woman who saw death as the only escape.

A Swift Trial and the Failure of Clemency

Ruth’s trial was a spectacle of haste and bias. The jury’s fourteen-minute verdict and subsequent death sentence underscored a judicial system swayed by societal norms. Despite evidence of her abuse and a miscarriage merely ten days prior, the court remained unmoved. A last-ditch effort to save her life, revealing Blakely’s brutality, was dismissed. Ruth’s lack of societal ‘respectability’ as a single mother and sex worker sealed her fate, contrasting sharply with a contemporary case where a married woman received clemency.

Legacy and Reflections on Justice

Ruth Ellis’s execution on July 13, 1955, marked the end of a life defined by resilience and despair. Her story, a tapestry of societal failure and personal tragedy, is a poignant reminder of the flaws in justice. Carol Ann Lee’s work and the ensuing drama series challenge us to reevaluate Ruth’s legacy, highlighting the need for empathy and fairness in a system that often judges harshly. Ruth’s story is not just a tale of murder, but a mirror reflecting the biases of her time, urging us to ponder the true meaning of justice.