SEAL_final_1.doc (124 kB)
Ruth Ellis and public contestation of the death penalty
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.
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Publication status
- Published
Journal
The Howard Journal Of Criminal JusticeISSN
0265-5527Publisher
Blackwell PublishingExternal DOI
Issue
5Volume
50Page range
492-504Department affiliated with
- Sociology and Criminology Publications
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- Yes
Peer reviewed?
- Yes
Legacy Posted Date
2012-11-09Usage metrics
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