MELFORD STEVENSON

Ruth Ellis’s defence counsel, Melford Stevenson

Melford Stevenson - left in photo - at the ‘Peleus’ trial 1945.

Details about Melford Stevenson’s career make an interesting story. He was the QC chosen to defend Ruth Ellis at her trial.According to successive commentators Stevenson’s style, which developed mainly in the less demanding atmosphere of the divorce court, was “precise but not stimulating. He had had little experience of major criminal cases.”   I would say that description is misleading.

Stevenson was called to the bar in 1925. He became a King’s Counsel in 1943, appointed Recorder of the Borough of Rye (1944 -1951) and Recorder of City of Cambridge (1952 –1957). The Dictionary of National Biography describes his fee books showing a “Slow but steady increase in junior practice until the outbreak of war in 1939. In view of his later reputation [he’s been described as a bloodthirsty judge] it is remarkable how little criminal work he did.”It isn’t so ”remarkable” considering his role in 2^nd World War war trials that I’ve uncovered.

He served in the army and from 1940 to 1945 acted as Deputy Judge Advocate with rank of major.At Nurenberg in 1945 he served as Judge Advocate at the “Peleus” Trial, swiftly despatching Commander Eck and two other officers of the German submarine U852 to death by firing squad.

Stevenson was also Judge Advocate at the trial of Private Theodore Schurch, held at Leconfield House (MI5’s HQ) in London. Schurch was found guilty of spying, then hanged.

Something doesn’t add up. On 11 May 1955 this barrister who curiously gave the impression that he was inexperienced, requested a postponement of Ruth Ellis’s trial to prepare the case. He actually did nothing further to help her.

Why did Mr Bickford, Ruth’s solicitor at the time, select a barrister, who on the face of it had little experience in criminal cases?

The fact is that Stevenson was actually an eminent barrister with a reputation for being a merciless Judge Advocate at 2^nd World War war trials.

He seemed to muddle his duties with those of Christmas Humphreys, the prosecuting counsel. Was his ineffective handling of Ruth Ellis’s defence at the Old Bailey deliberate? Did he know she had to be eliminated? By doing nothing to help her he played a major role in sending her to the gallows.

I re-read the secret Home Office document, which revealed how, on the morning of the trial Stevenson decided to subject prosecution witnesses to a minimum of cross examination.

Whose side was he on?

Solid evidence is impossible to come by. I leave it to readers of my blog to decide if the true character and background of Aubrey Melford Steed Stevenson QC has been intentionally concealed all these years.