The unfinished story of Ruth Ellis, the last woman executed in Britain episode artwork

EPISODE · Jan 19, 2026 · 12 MIN

The unfinished story of Ruth Ellis, the last woman executed in Britain

from State of the World from NPR

In 1955, Ruth Ellis was hanged for killing her abusive partner, a scandal that gripped the nation. But the murder investigation was flawed and incomplete, and eventually, Ellis’ case was a catalyst for abolishing Britain’s death penalty. 70 years later, her family is seeking a posthumous pardon.  See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.NPR Privacy Policy

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The unfinished story of Ruth Ellis, the last woman executed in Britain

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