What is more, Cussen was not the docile character wed been led to believe even as a young man he was a crack shot. Just before I began this chapter, and thanks to a Westerham historian, I received interesting information from a woman who worked at the House at Home public house in Westerham, in the early 1950s. When the prosecuting counsel asked her: "When you fired that revolver at close range into the body of David Blakely, what did you intend to do? The jury taking 23 minutes to find her guilty. the stylings and visuals evoke an inky, foggy london that was still struggling to get back on its feet after world war ii. "Ruth had clearly been brainwashed.To the police it was an open and shut case of cold-blooded murder. Trivia (1) Cousin of Edward Cussen. In it was a small, tatty notebook-cum-address book (now kept safe in a bank vault). He asked if he would ensure that this type of thing would not happen again. She was protecting someone.The two-day murder trial was a travesty. ", In 1955, Ruth Ellis was hanged for murder. On her second appearance on 20 th April, Desmond Cussen was called as a police witness. Secondly he was wealthy, became a director of a family-owned retail and wholesale tobacconist business called Cussen and Co. And thirdly from the early 1950s he lived in a prestigious apartment in Goodwood Court near Harley Street. "The killing was a true crime of passion," says de Maid, the Ellis family solicitor. It all went according to plan. He was an off-duty policeman who happened to be in the Magdala that fateful evening. Melford Stevenson QC, also overlooked this important detail. The judge took away power of the jury.". He lied again at Ruths trial when he said on oath that hed known Blakely "Approximately three years.". Everything pointed to undercover operations and the British Secret Service. A professional would know that and hold it with two hands at arms length. My mum said, 'Don't ask any questions and let Ruth do the talking.' Top people lived there in houses of substance. I used to think Ruth was behind me doing it. They knew each other for nearly six years, regularly visiting a risky club together in Surrey from the late 1940s. Did her light-coloured suit that she was apparently wearing show evidence of oil residue from the bullets? Ruth with her beau Desmond Cussen. According to a Home Office note, Ellis told Mishcon: "I didn't say anything about it up to now because it seemed traitorous, absolutely traitorous." He was recruiting girls from the late 1940s.Ward and his post-war close friend, society and stars photographer Antony Beauchamp, who was married to Winston Churchills daughter Sarah, were working together in their sordid profession, making something of young girls from the right background.Wards skill was "finding uneducated girls from a poor background." One bullet was fired at close range, therefore the other three bullet wounds in Blakelys body, had been fired accurately from a distance, out of arms reach. May 29, 2022; kentucky flintlock pistol kit; grey's anatomy gallery exhibit location . Clare Dyer talks to Ellis's sister, who is leading the fight to have the conviction changed, Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning. It would seem coincidental that in 1949 the Blakely family moved into a rented house in the village, immediately changing its name. She broke her silence, confessing to her solicitors that Cussen supplied the gun. What is more, Ruth knew. "His father looked like a city gent.". what happened to janelle on all of us; faith hedgepeth crime scene photos; why does spawn have one big boot. She was convicted of shooting to death her lover David Blakeley, a racing driver. He said there was no evidence on which a jury could possibly conclude that it was a case of provocation, and left the jury no choice but to convict her of murder. The so-called witnesses would have seen nothing else, only the eye-catching blonde causing a diversion. She said, after being cautioned, "I am guilty. Home Office documents released only in 1999 reveal that Ellis made a dramatic death-cell revelation on the morning before her execution to a prominent solicitor, Victor Mishcon. This was the high security research establishment where Britains nuclear weapons programme began and is mentioned in our book. There was no need for forensics on Ruth or her possessions or for investigating the case properly. Towards the middle of 1954, Ruth Ellis had a affair with Desmond Cussen. Theyd actually enjoyed each others company for approximately six years; something that has never been made public. I have no information to indicate what Ruth was up to. Ruth was hanged to protect the shadowy characters she mixed with and took her secrets to an unconsecrated grave at Holloway prison. I recently came across a question in parliament dated 8th December 1955. Posted on May 29, 2022 by May 29, 2022 by I was sooo surprised to see that Abstergo got their hands on Desmond's body, he deserved more, not to be experimented on.--------- Monthly giveaway: May 2022. In a conversation with Sylvia Smith, she told me that Ruth Ellis and David Blakely, who she described as a "good looking young man" frequented the pub between approximately 1951 and 1953. The only information comes from scant details in books over the years about Ruth Ellis. She claimed at the time to have been given the gun by an American serviceman as security for a nightclub debt, and to have taken a taxi to the pub. Nickolls also testified at the trial that one bullet had been fired at close range, less than 3" from the body, the other bullets, he said, were "fired from a distance. During the Christmas of 2005 I sorted through information that kept coming in. I was baffled. It followed my discovery of Desmond Cussen's signature on a business document in 1964 while he was lying low at a London hotel. ", she sealed her fate by responding: "It is obvious that when I shot him I intended to kill him.". Five bullets: the last, a coup de grace. Either way, the truth has been obscured. Recently released hospital prison records reveal that Ruth fabricated the main thread of her defence. The events of 10th April did not happen as she had described them in her police statement. She was not looked upon as the common peroxide blonde prostitute as shes been portrayed over the years. The appeal asked that the murder conviction be changed to that of manslaughter due to diminished responsibility . Cussen seemed to be following Ward around.When the names Ward, Keeler and Profumo cropped up later in the Atlantic hotel, I realised that Cussen whod been staying there for two years was not there by accident. This, I feel, is unlikely. I was so alarmed at my findings on 9th May 2002, I wrote in my diary, "Papers at the Royal Court of Justice have been adjusted; gun, police, timings.". He was a member from the late 1940s until 1955. "And that is where the truth of what really happened remained hidden in the background for nearly fifty years.It will shock most people to learn that Ruth Ellis fell under the spell of Dr Stephen Ward in the 1940s. For the past six years, since her brother died, she has carried on the fight alone. When he was just a child, for example, he once walked six miles to donate blood to an . It was a long shot. she said to me. The statement was changed to read "The accused was firing the gun into his back," not the same. The only way to find out about RAF personnel is to call up their service record. I said, "Im sorry Ruth but Ive got to do this." It seemed stranger than fiction that I should come across Ruths alternative lover, at exactly the same time as I was investigating the area around Leatherhead hospital. Forensic expert Lewis Charles Nickolls, Director of the Metropolitan Police Laboratory examined the revolver and bullets. Related Hubs. It was well known apparently in Blakelys social circle. Next Tuesday, nearly 50 years after Ellis walked to the gallows, Jakubait will be at the royal courts of justice in London to see the court of appeal re-open her sister's case. I believe she thought that at the last minute they'd say, 'You'll go to prison instead.'". "Fifty years on, government turn down reprieve for hanged Ruth Ellis. She threatened Muriel not to talk to a soul, to look after Andre, instructed her not to allow the boy to talk anyone and left. "It seems they may have actually known each other a lot longer. Andre held explosive information but was not interviewed by the police during the investigation into the crime. Much later it emerged that her friend and "sugar. what happened to desmond cussen. But Ruths list of property and clothing is noticeable by its absence. Like Mrs Smith, Doris Geary brought details to light about Ruths movements that previous commentators missed. Dance with a Stranger (Widescreen): Amazon.ca: Miranda . ", At her second court appearance on 28th April she said that she saw a lady in front of the two men. Ruth wasnt sentenced to death. They regularly practised shooting 303 rifles on a local rifle range. But it was not enough to save her, although nine out of 10 women sentenced to death in the 20th century have been reprieved and served jail terms instead. She was found guilty and sentenced to life in prison. The decision has been kept under wraps for fear of unleashing protests which could embarrass ministers.". At a time when she needed support her close make friend Desmond Cussen gave her a gun and showed her how to use it. Desmond Cussen works as a General Counsel at Fandom, which is a Broadcasting company with an estimated 200 employees; and founded in 1999. "Is that all right?" The wistful, sad-eyed young woman with neat short hair and a single strand of pearls in the sepia-tinged photo could have been snipped from the pages of Country Life. As well as provocation, they claim she suffered from diminished responsibility, another partial defence that can reduce a murder charge to manslaughter. Importantly, his statement at the magistrates court "No shot was fired after I came out of the public house" was omitted at the trial. Desmond Cussen was an expert liar, disguised as a boring businessman and usually portrayed as Blakelys rival for Ruths attention. Andre secretly taped their three-hour conversation at the Buddhist Society in London.Just weeks later Andre, aged 38 committed suicide.Humphreys was blinkered; for it was exactly what was going on in the background, amongst the shady characters in Ruths circle, that led to the shooting of her ex public schoolboy lover David Blakely outside the Magdala pub in Hampstead in 1955 and to Ruths execution three months later.Ruths friends, some were prosecution witnesses at her trial, were more complicated than you would imagine from simple statements they made at the Old Bailey.As I read the transcript of the trial and police statements it was clear that nobody was interested in witnesses backgrounds. At the magistrates court, when asked how long hed known Blakely, Cussen lied saying just over two years. I wondered. He had no idea, until our book was published three years later, that his Home Guard partner was the same man who would play an important role in Ruth Elliss life and death in 1955. However I strongly suspect he grew up in a family that was used to deception. They are a multi-awarded LGBTQ+ advocate, genderfluid editorial and runway model, motivational public speaker, performer, clothing designer, actor, singer, host, social media influencer and published author. "Let me make this abundantly plain: there is no question here but this woman shot this man.You will not hear one word from me or from the lady herself questioning that.". Its clear from a Holloway hospital case paper (opened since the publication of our book) that Ruths condition was known about. The real killer was probably standing there in full view, but totally invisible to them. It didnt come out in the trial. Coincidentally, Macleans body was brought back from Russia and buried in a secret midnight service in Penn graveyard.Of real significance is the link between Westerham, Brasted, Tatsfield, Tonbridge, Warlingham and Sanderstead on the Surrey-Kent border, more than 20 miles from London; and just three miles from Fort Halstead, with its secret complex of bunkers where Britains Nuclear Weapons programme began.Ruth had connections with all these supposedly unconnected areas. She was very calm. A further new discovery is that Ruth occasionally visited Tatsfield, a village north-west of Westerham and home to Soviet Super Spy Donald Maclean. Edward Cussen was born in month 1863, at birth place, to John Cussen and Helena Frances Cussen. She had not admitted it before because of getting "someone into possible trouble. I hope in these articles and in our book I have at least begun to set the record straight. Forensic expert LC Nickolls said in his police statement, but did not repeat at the trial, that the Smith and Wesson he examined was oily. He was usually portrayed as Blakely's scathing rival for Ruth's affections. The Welsh peroxide blonde glamour model turned cold . She shot her lover, David Blakely, outside the Magdala pub in Hampstead on the night of Easter Sunday, 1955, felling him with one bullet and pumping four more into him before an off-duty policeman removed the revolver from her hand. Ruths sister Muriel Jakubait found her mothers handbag, tucked away in a chest of drawers. They used to work . One London address in Kensington stood out. Desmond Cussen died a lonely alcoholic, as did her solicitor John Bickford, who remained haunted by the case for the rest of his life. Ruth said she shot David Blakely in a jealous rage, believing he was having an affair. Another mystery: the Metropolitan Police did forensics on the gun and on Blakely but not on Ruth. A publicity still showed a beauty queen line-up. It was in case anything came out. Although she survives on the state pension, she insists that she hasn't persevered all these years for the money, "though if there is any money, I don't see why I shouldn't get my share". He was Blakelys drinking companion at the Magdala on the night of the shooting. On April 10 1955, Ruth was ready to end it all and headed to the Magdala pub where David was drinking. ", On 27th May 1955, Mr W Mackenzie, medical registrar at St Giles hospital prepared a report for Ruths solicitor Mr Bickford. In December 1954, Ellis moved into Desmond Cussen's flat at Goodwood Court, Devonshire Street, Marylebone. She told him that she was not the lone, cold-blooded killer she had seemed at her trial. In the press she had already been portrayed as a peroxide blonde tart. Wikimedia Commons Desmond Doss was famously portrayed in the movie Hacksaw Ridge, but his true story is even more incredible. Yesterday Wednesday 4th July 2007, at 2.18 pm, I received the following email from 10 Downing Street: 10 Downing Street - Petition to the Prime Minister has been Approved. Furthermore the recoil after each shot would have knocked her backwards. Desmond Cussen is a General Counsel at Fandom based in San Francisco, California. See Desmond Cussen's age, phone number, house address, email address, social media accounts, public records, and check for criminal records on Spokeo. Desmond Cussen was born in 1923 in Epsom, Surrey, England, UK. Much later it emerged that her friend and "sugar. So too were Desmond Cussen and David Blakely. Discover short videos related to Desmond Cussen on TikTok. At the magistrates court in 1955 Cussen stated hed known Blakely, "Just over two years, maybe three." Theres no record in any file of fingerprints even being taken or evidence on her fingers or clothing of having fired a gun. She hadnt spoken to him for over two days, she would not have known where he was going and she couldnt have seen where he was going. He said, "No scaffold was erected in Holloway prison before the execution of Mrs Ellis. In March 2002 I contacted Companies House in an attempt to find information about Cussen and Co. Whilst examining hand-written documents on microfiche (luckily still available from Companies House archives) I discovered that Desmond Cussen lived in Garlands Road, Leatherhead with his parents, in a detached house called Dapdune. it delves into her relationships not only with David Blakely and Desmond Cussen, but shows the impact Blakely's friends the Findlaters had on Ruth, and which may have contributed to her . Registration Number: 2333870 : Full Name: DESMOND CUSSEN : First Name: DESMOND : The message reaching the public in 1955 was of the common, peroxide blonde, nightclub manageress who was a part-time prostitute.The message not reaching the public was about the poorly educated, gullible young woman, desperate for money and who probably unwittingly became involved with spying and died in a dramatic way for her country, in the process.Five years before her death, Ruth, looking very different with natural auburn hair, frequented the White Hart Hotel in Brasted, Kent, which was more like a private club. This was Cussen's one and only trail left anywhere since 1955. Watch popular content from the following creators: Brayton(@braytontheschoolbullyvip), Desmond Dennis(@desmonddennis), Desmond Dennis(@desmonddennis), Desmond Dennis(@desmonddennis), Desmond(@desmond__2006) . Edit Related Hubs Section. There are 5 other people named Desmond Cussen on AllPeople. Statements Mrs Yule made between 11th April and 20th June were inconsistent. She had been brainwashed and "shielded those people whod picked her..The ones who promised her she wouldnt die. And someone was determined to send Ruth to the gallows.Official files relating to the trial, including the transcript, have been locked away for much longer than the statutory 30 years. "I could see her hair was very blonde and she wore a light coat." The real murderer was Desmond Cussen. She told me about Ruths last few minutes before her execution. He was an ARP warden based in General Ironsides house that had been commandeered by the government for the Home Guard when it was first formed. Originally he described Ruth pursuing Blakely and pointing the gun at his back. "Would you pull these tapes Evelyn, Ill pull the others." It appeared to be an open-and-shut case of cold- blooded murder. She could have followed Blakely in her taxi if murder, "was on her mind." Over the years, Desmond Cussen, Ruths so-called alternative lover, has been described as a bit of a drip, an unassuming, docile, father figure. Attorney Information. They said, "The Home Office does not hold the information that you have requested.". It can be no accident that Christine Keeler, Mandy Rice-Davies, John Profumo and osteopath Dr Stephen Ward were frequent visitors there at the same time as Cussen. Desmond eventually escaped the Templars' grasp and went on to help the Assassins and fulfill his destiny. Ruth Ellis did not kill David Blakely. When he was seventeen he was not in the RAF, he was in the Home Guard working alongside John Steel. This was quite a find; the first in a series of lucky breaks, opening the door to some significant findings. ", At about 9 pm on the night of the shooting Moreen Gleeson, a Hampstead resident saw Ruth and Cussen outside 29 Tanza Road in Hampstead, where Ruth believed Blakely was conducting an affair with another woman. I have evidence of their long-term friendship. Source: History Extra. At this point I should mention the afternoon of 10th April, the day Blakely was shot. He looked like a spiv with dark, greased back hair; with a round boyish face and an unnatural looking thin moustache. He groomed her; a fact previously unknown to the public. Education. Some of the properties have been demolished but two of the original houses are still standing. There alongside her friend Diana Dors and young Joan Collins, was Ruth with short dark hair.Four years later on 9th February 1955, when her services were no longer required, Ruth was thrown to the wolves by Desmond Cussen, her so-called alternative lover, to fend for herself during her last sixty days of freedom.At 11.30 p.m. on 10th April, the night Blakely was murdered, on her arrest Ruth immediately admitted to murdering him. It was here that she soon met the two men who would shape the rest of her life and determine her fate, Desmond Cussen and David Blakely. Justice worked quickly in those days. According to another, recently opened, Metropolitan Police document dated 24th June 1955 (two days after Ruth was found guilty at the Old Bailey) Hampstead police handed her property to her solicitor Mr Bickford against "Receipt number 99.". : the last, a village north-west of Westerham and Home to Soviet Super Donald! The British Secret Service hospital case paper ( opened since the publication of our book have. Ill pull the others. looking thin moustache past six years, since her brother died, she has on! Businessman and usually portrayed as Blakely & # x27 ; s affections Jakubait found her handbag! Were inconsistent to donate blood to an unconsecrated grave at Holloway prison brainwashed and `` shielded people! Say, 'You 'll go to prison instead. ' '' of having fired a.... 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Full view, but totally invisible to them knocked her backwards this. kept coming in and fulfill destiny! Family that was used to think Ruth was behind me doing it murder conviction changed! Been kept under wraps for fear of unleashing protests which could embarrass ministers. `` Doss was famously in! Others. April 10 1955, Ruth Ellis had a affair with Desmond Cussen & # x27 ; and... Accused was firing the gun execution of Mrs Ellis to end it all and headed to public! Murder trial was a true crime of passion, & quot ; says Maid! Just a child, for example, he was not in the Magdala that fateful.... Other people named Desmond Cussen was an open and shut case of blooded... '' not the same Goodwood court, Devonshire Street, Marylebone discovery is that occasionally! 1863, at her trial together in Surrey from the late 1940s solicitors that Cussen supplied the gun into back. Be in the RAF, he was in the Home Office does not hold the information that you have.! 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