The last hanging in Great Britain was of the murderers convicted for the wrongful death of John Alan West in 1964. Peter Anthony Allen was hung at Walton Prison in Liverpool and Gwynne Owen Evans at Strangeways Prison in Manchester. Robert Leslie Stewart and Harry Allen were the hangmen who conducted these, the last of Britain's executions in this manner.
However, Ruth Ellis was the last woman to be hanged in Great Britain in the year 1955 by hangman Albert Pierrepoint who was well-known throughout England for most of the twentieth century.
Just after the last hanging, in the following year, 1965, Parliament passed the Murder Act, which completely abolished capital punishment for murderous acts.
As of 1998, with the passing of the Human Rights Act, the death penalty has been completely abolished in Britain for any crime whether they are committed by civilians or members of the military.
However, Ruth Ellis was the last woman to be hanged in Great Britain in the year 1955 by hangman Albert Pierrepoint who was well-known throughout England for most of the twentieth century.
Just after the last hanging, in the following year, 1965, Parliament passed the Murder Act, which completely abolished capital punishment for murderous acts.
As of 1998, with the passing of the Human Rights Act, the death penalty has been completely abolished in Britain for any crime whether they are committed by civilians or members of the military.
