The latest suicide bomber in Britain: what were executed the former model and mother of two Ruth Ellis

In the spring of 1955, the British press was enthusiastic murder. On a London street several shots from a revolver, was killed famous racecar driver, an aristocrat and a favorite of women David Blakely. But the most interesting thing about this story was the identity of the killer. The man was shot not mafia and not street robbers, and his common-law wife, ex-model and mother of two adorable children Ruth Ellis.

Ruth Ellis — a vivid example of how the predominance of emotion over reason can in no time to destroy man. The future killer was born in a poor large family of musician alcoholic who loved to dismiss his hands and fought not only his wife but also children. Obviously, that's why Ruth later chose the type of men who love to drink and to prove his innocence with his fists.

In 15 years, Ellis had to get his first job as a waitress in a café. But the girl long delivered orders — she was attracted by the big city and soon Ruth went to conquer London. In the capital the girl dyed her hair bright blonde and with pleasure began to learn adult life.

First love Ellis — soldier from faraway Canada, after the service disappeared, leaving the "gift" of the child and without even saying goodbye. After that, temporarily disillusioned with men beauty decided to do a modeling career. We can say that Ruth turned out, though often her name was on erotic photography for men's magazines.

Gradually came to the girl success and some prosperity. She no longer had to save and accept any work offered, and in addition, Ellis became the entree into the world of show business and made some useful contacts. This allowed Ruth to find a permanent and well-paid job as an administrator in one of the prestigious London clubs.

It seemed that life returned to normal, but Ruth just had to find its head problem. And they don't have to wait long in the form of a middle-aged drinker dentist George. It is not known what bribed this man is a young model, but it was another error. This marriage lasted only a year and there have Ellis left a daughter.

From Blakely was the bride and it went to the wedding, but Ruth cared less. Using all his charm and skill of seduction, the former model took David at the girl, and they began to live together. New sweetheart were traditionally drinking and nervous. In addition, Blakely had a weakness for women and gambling, as well as aversion to any work.

David Blakely and Ruth Ellis

The constant drinking and infidelity of spouse devastated Ruth. She began taking depressants and addicted to alcohol. At this difficult time in her life a man that really could change everything for the better. Big businessman Desmond Cassin has long been in love with Ellis and struggled trying to support it.

But Cassano failed to make girlfriend happy in this tragic history, he has a completely different role. One day Ellis asked the fan to give her a gun and teach him to shoot. The man complied with this request, although it is unclear what motivated them. Hand plucked, constantly full of pills depressed 28-year-old woman's weapon — it was the worst of all possible ideas.

Desmond Cassin and Ruth Ellis

Blakely, seeing that does Ellis decided not to return to it, that made the woman who loves to go on extreme measures. A few days later, April 10 1955, Ruth asked Cassin to bring her to the pub "Magdala", where he loved to have fun with friends her fiance. In her purse the woman lay a loaded revolver Smith and Wesson .38, a gift from a fan.

Ellis sent the Cassin home, and she was left to wait for David at the entrance to the school. When he went outside, the woman shot him with all the bullets, killing on the spot. After that, Ruth had calmed down, asked passersby to call the police and waited for law enforcement officers to the body of his victim.

Article about the case of Ruth Ellis in the newspaper

In the 50 years of the 20th century for second-degree murder in the UK relied only one punishment — the death penalty through hanging. When the court asked Ruth if she knows that she might execute the woman calmly replied — "a life for a Life. Isn't it fair?".

Lawyer Ruth Ellis tried to convince the court that the murder was committed in the heat of passion, manslaughter. It gave the woman a chance to escape death and to imprisonment. But the ex-model was specially sought to the scaffold — she stated that she planned to kill Blakely and came to the pub.

The execution took place on 13 July 1955. On this day at the gates of Holloway prison, a crowd of people who demanded to commute the sentence to the killer. But justice is done — Ruth Ellis became the last woman executed in Britain. In 1969 the death penalty was abolished.

The case of Ruth Ellis, despite the absence of political motives and grandstanding, was among the most notorious crimes of the 20th century. The fate of the former model still inspires writers all over the world. A similar murder occurred in London in 1923, when a former prostitute Marguerite Libert shot her husband, Egyptian Prince. But she had quite a different ending.