According to a secret 1955 document recently released, it was known on 23rd April 1955 (13 days after David Blakely’s murder) that Desmond Cussen would be called as a prosecution witness – yet this man was allowed to visit Ruth Ellis every day in prison up until her trial. Why? SEE ‘DOCUMENTS RECENTLY RELEASED’
Why was the *list of Ruth’s property which was taken from her by the Hampstead police at the time of her arrest, hidden in a secret file that was not to be opened until 2031? What was so special about the contents of this list?
*NB – this list was eventually released at The National Archives following my request in February 2006. SEE ‘DOCUMENTS RECENTLY RELEASED’
Why is the Home Office still witholding details of the police’s unsuccessful search for Desmond Cussen following Ruth Ellis’s revelations to her solicitors Messrs Mishcon and Simmons at midday on 12th July 1955, the day before she was hanged? Where is the police report about this search? When and where was Cussen found?
Ruth’s true medical condition (bones in her left hand had been destroyed and her ankle joint damaged as a result of contracting rheumatic fever) was not taken into consideration at her trial?Instead, evidence was given that she was perfectly fit.
Why has a 1955 document only just been released at The National Archives, stating that Mr Simmons, Ruth’s original solicitor, had actually been granted permission to visit Ruth in the condemned cell on the 30th June 1955? There is no record of any visit until 12th July 1955, the day before she was hanged. I have recently uncovered evidence that Mr Simmons did actually visit her before the 12th July yet there is no documentation about that visit at The National Archives. Why?
