Death penalty

• Abolitionists argued that statistics showed that countries which ended death penalty had not resulted in hither murder rates
• What were the three main cases :

  • Timothy Evan’s
  • Ruth Ellis
  • Derek Bentley
• What was the timothy evans case?

  • Innocent for the crime he was executed for
  • Neighbour Christie was a constable who murdered his daughter and wife and framed him
  • False confessions were unknown
• What was the derek Bentley case?

  • Convicted of murder
  • 200 mp’s sign a petition against it as he was feeble minded
  • Murder was committed 15 minutes after his arrest
• what was the case of ruth Ellis?

  • Abusive relationship so she killed man
  • Didn’t factor in provocation and abuse
  • Attracted large public sympathy as she was a pretty blonde
• Sidney Silverman pioneered the bill which became law in 1965 and permanent in 1969