On July 13th 1955 , 28 year old Ruth Ellis became the last woman to be hanged in Britain. The blonde nightclub hostess had lived a troubled life filled with many abusive men. At breaking point she stalked and murdered the last of those men, David Blakely. Despite her horrific crime, shooting David several times, the general public largely took pity on her.

In today's episode we look at her life leading up to the incident and ponder if capital punishment is ever the answer?

00:00 - Intro
00:45 - Ruth Ellis' Early Life
04:40 - Teenage Ruth's Life in London During WW2
06:30 - Ruth struggles to support her family
08:58 - Desmond Cussens and David Blakely enter the scene
12:40 - Ruth commits the crime she would hang for
15:05 - Trial and Aftermath