Former Hollyoaks actor Stephen Beard was enjoying dinner with friends when he received the news that his grandmother, Ruth Ellis, the last woman to be hanged in Britain, had been pardoned posthumously. The 38-year-old father of four expressed to The Mirror the emotional impact of this moment, marking the conclusion of a longstanding campaign for justice.
“It was an incredible thing to hear. I looked up to the sky, thinking of Ruth and my mother. This journey has been lengthy, but finally, it has come to an end. We can now release this burden. The family has carried this weight for so long. The repercussions of Ruth’s death have affected multiple generations. However, the notion that we harbored ‘bad blood’ due to past events is now over. It’s been resolved,” shared Stephen.
The news of Ruth’s posthumous conditional pardon, granted by King Charles and disclosed by Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy in Parliament, signifies a shift from the original death penalty to a life imprisonment sentence. This decision acknowledges that if Ruth’s case were to be heard in modern courts, a defense invoking loss of control or diminished responsibility could have been considered.
Ruth, a nightclub hostess from Wales, was executed at 28 for the murder of her abusive lover, David Blakely, in 1955. Her family has persistently advocated for Ruth’s pardon, emphasizing her status as a victim of emotional and physical abuse.
Stephen, who resides in Dubai and works with international data center clients, along with his six siblings, maintained that Ruth’s trial was fundamentally flawed, neglecting crucial evidence regarding her abuse and mental state. The impact of Ruth’s case has not only captivated the public but also cast a long shadow over subsequent generations in her family.
Following Ruth’s demise, her executioner recalled her composure, noting her bravery. Stephen reflects on the multi-generational effects of Ruth’s death, acknowledging the resilience she displayed in her last moments as a source of inspiration.
As he plans to display a picture of his grandmother proudly in his home, Stephen remarks, “Before she was labeled a murderer, deemed a cold-blooded killer. Now, she’s simply my grandmother.”
