Seal, Lizzie (2011) Ruth Ellis and public contestation of the death penalty. The Howard Journal Of Criminal Justice, 50 (5). pp. 492-504. ISSN 0265-5527

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Abstract

This article examines public reactions to the case of Ruth Ellis through an analysis of letters sent to the Home Secretary. The vast majority of these requested a reprieve, and highlighted themes such as her status as a mother, the murder as a crime of passion, David Blakely's mistreatment of her and the unfairness of applying the death penalty in her case. I argue that we need to analyse the public's views on Ruth Ellis in order to understand why her case was a pivotal one in turning the tide against capital punishment as a mandatory penalty for murder.

Item Type:	Article
Schools and Departments:	School of Law, Politics and Sociology > Sociology
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > HV Social pathology. Social and public welfare. Criminology > HV6001 Criminology
Depositing User:	Lizzie Seal
Date Deposited:	09 Nov 2012 08:11
Last Modified:	09 Nov 2012 08:11
URI:	http://srodev.sussex.ac.uk/id/eprint/41532

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