A Fine Day for a Hanging: The Real Ruth Ellis Story by Carol Ann Lee

Author:Carol Ann Lee [Lee, Carol Ann]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Autobiography, Biography, Criminology, Non-Fiction, Social Science, True Crime
ISBN: 9781780573694
Google: DPhs5ORvINwC
Amazon: B0094F57KK
Publisher: Random House
Published: 2012-09-05T23:00:00+00:00

In an unpublished letter he added that he advised Desmond to consult a different solicitor ‘before I knew he would be called as a witness for the prosecution, as indeed at that time it seemed to me to be unlikely’. 30 Having reached a decision, Bickford did not waver from it, but the moral and legal dilemma caused him endless torment, which worsened in the years to come.

For the time being, he had obtained ‘a picture of sorts and various names and addresses’ from Ruth to investigate further. And despite having advised Desmond to speak to another solicitor, the two men met again: ‘He helped me to collect her things and was most co-operative.’ 31 Bickford gave no further hint of anything Desmond may have said to him while he was deliberating how best to present Ruth’s case.

Ultimately, Bickford settled on aiming for a verdict of manslaughter and if that failed, a recommendation of mercy that would give him room to press for a reprieve. There was a significantly weak spot in obtaining a manslaughter verdict: the absence of contact between Ruth and David from Good Friday to Easter Sunday. It was difficult to argue that the shooting was an impulsive act caused by provocation when the last time Ruth saw David was more than 48 hours before. Her refusal to account for her activities on the afternoon and early evening of the shooting further depleted her chances of being convicted of manslaughter rather than murder.

The defence of diminished responsibility, which would almost certainly have saved Ruth from the gallows, was not recognised in English law in 1955.

Following her meeting with Bickford, Ruth had an appointment with the prison doctor. She discussed her background with him in detail and was frank about her past, although less so when giving her occupation (‘I am a professional model and mannequin since December 1954’), and spoke at length about David, including his death. 32 The doctor noted:

On day of offence she went home and got a revolver which she had hidden . . . She shot at David . . . ‘He deserved what he got’ . . . Cause of actions appears jealousy . . . States she did not mind what happened to her, at the time she was in such a rage at the way David and his friends were dealing with her. 33

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