what happened to desmond cussen

When I was compiling evidence for our book, I spoke to John Ross, curator of the Crime Museum at New Scotland Yard. Therefore she was guilty. Is that right?" "He explained to the judge Mr Justice Havers that the close range shot had left the usual circle of powder fouling around the bullet hole. That day Melford Stevenson applied for the case to be postponed until after 14th June, "Owing to the large number of enquiries still to be made by the defence." Berta told Muriel that Ruth had shot and killed Blakely. I suspect that the gun conveniently broke during test firing as the results would have cleared Ruth of the murder. ", 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. Source: History Extra. The pair frequently visited the Paddock Club, which was a mile or so from Cussens Leatherhead family home, since the late 1940s. I told him that Muriel Jakubait wished to handle the gun (displayed in the Museum) that was retrieved at the scene of the shooting. Desmond Cussen died a lonely alcoholic, as did her solicitor John Bickford, who remained haunted by the case for the rest of his life. "He looked like a rat and was an extremely jealous person, " she says. It was organised like a military exercise by experts. The former hostess had tracked her inconstant and abusive lover David Blakely to a Hampstead pub a few months before getting the ride, and the murder weapon, from her unrequited hanger-on Desmond Cussen and shot Blakely dead on the street. Since the winter of 2005 I have made discoveries about Cussens service record; thats another story. All Melford Stevenson had to say was "No questions.". "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. He told the jury that she had been "driven to a frenzy which for the time being unseated her understanding". He was perfectly placed when the Profumo fiasco broke in 1963.This discovery opened up a new line of investigation, which in turn led to the infamous spying activities of Donald Maclean and Guy Burgess.The convincing story, spun and repeated for fifty years, disguised the real Ruth Ellis. One led me to a new witness, John Steel, an elderly Leatherhead gent, with a phenomenally accurate memory for everything wartime. No one seeing that face framed on the mantelpiece of a pensioner's bungalow near Woking would identify her as Ruth Ellis, the cool platinum blonde from the postwar London nightclub demimonde who shot her lover dead and won enduring fame as the last woman to hang in Britain. She went round to the flat on Good Friday and made a scene, only leaving when he phoned the police. She offered no resistance. 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. "Ruth had clearly been brainwashed.To the police it was an open and shut case of cold-blooded murder. Did Stevenson choose not to explain this evidence to the Old Bailey jury? I can confirm that an application for a posthumous free pardon, limited to sentence, was considered and rejected earlier this year.". My enquiries were met with assurances that nobody knew anything. ", In 1955, Ruth Ellis was hanged for murder. He rather resembled Ellis in looks. I am rather confused. But it was not. If not, why not?". Nothing about Cussen was quite what it seemed. Found 250 colleagues at Gracenote. At the magistrates court in 1955 Cussen stated hed known Blakely, "Just over two years, maybe three." Evelyn Galilee was the warder who guarded Ruth in the condemned cell for three weeks before her execution. So too were Desmond Cussen and David Blakely. She was found guilty and sentenced to life in prison. I find it questionable that Ruth managed to shoot six rounds of live ammunition, firing four bullets into David Blakley, then the gun breaks during testing thereby destroying evidence. I have evidence of their long-term friendship. He told me on the telephone that Cussen had told him in the early 1960s [at the time of the Profumo scandal] of Ruth Elliss friendship with Dr Stephen Ward. To all intents and purposes she appeared to shoot Blakely. In his police statement he explained, "In order to fire 6 cartridges, it is necessary to cock the trigger six times, as in the case of a revolver pulling the trigger only fires one shot. Newsam advised the home secretary: "It would be a bad day for this country if we adopted the doctrine of crime passionelle This was a deliberately planned and cold-bloodedly executed murder.". I believe she thought that at the last minute they'd say, 'You'll go to prison instead.'". New leads and new evidence has emerged, with precise details of Ruths movements in the late 1940s and early 1950s, all contradicting the accepted Ruth Ellis story thats been repeated for fifty years. Muriel told me about events at her flat in St Pauls Cray on 11th April 1955. Desmond eventually escaped the Templars' grasp and went on to help the Assassins and fulfill his destiny. From my point of view publication of the book was just the beginning. "The killing was a true crime of passion," says de Maid, the Ellis family solicitor. Nothing was made of this at her trial. Whether he was really aware of her intention to kill David is not clear. What is little know though is that Blakely was violent and controlling. She and her husband Donald Maclean Yule (who was not called to give evidence) were walking to the Magdala for a Sunday evening drink. The procedure for estimating the range of fire of a weapon had been used for some years. where so many protested Ruth's execution. Christmas Humphreys opened the case for the prosecution. I suspect that forensics were not carried out on Ruth, and the gun conveniently broke during testing because the results would have saved her and proved she could not have killed Blakely. ", At the Old Bailey on 20th June Mrs Yule was not asked if she recognised the prisoner. She was pointing it towards Blakelys dead body. 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." By 4th June 2002, three months after beginning my research, new light had been thrown on Cussens wartime activities. Her daughter, Georgina, then a toddler, child of her estranged husband, George Ellis, an alcoholic dentist, was adopted and died, aged 50, of cancer. I wonder. 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.". Moreen Gleesons encounter with Ruth and Cussen and Ruths subsequent hanging, troubled her. If that had succeeded, she would have been found guilty of manslaughter and spared the gallows. She was the innocent pawn in a game of espionage planned by intelligence officers whose job was to lie and who wanted to get rid of her. "She was clean, smart, and certainly did not have stains down her clothes. I received three replies. 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. 30,029: San Francisco Late Stage Companies With More Than $1M in Revenue . He added, "He was a cut above the rest of us, well spoken and well educated, a gentleman" and lived next door at Dapdune. From a young age, Desmond Doss, born on February 7, 1919, radiated the kind of empathy that he'd display as a soldier later in life. Altogether there are 33 subtle changes.Where did the instructions come from, for Christmas Humphreys to make those changes?Its obvious now; Ruth was being set up. In 1941 he was Commander-in-Chief Home Forces, in charge of the Home Guard. 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. It was only hours before. The Castle itself dates back to the 13th Century but the main . I noticed this statement made by Clive Gunnell who called himself a Mayfair car salesman. Again Ruths barrister had no questions. It didnt come out in the trial. Then he lied at the trial saying "approximately three years.". Somewhere hidden in books written about the Cold War, Cussens other identity is waiting to be uncovered. The day after our first interview I had a call from Mr Steel. I could not give her an answer. At the time of the trial, provocation was narrowly interpreted, applying only to killers who reacted "in hot blood" to something happening immediately before the killing. But on arrival at Holloway prison, following her arrest, and before she had time to get her story straight, she told the prison doctor she had actually had an abortion.Interestingly on 19th March 1952 a passport, number N9584, was issued to Ruth Ellis. 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. Desmond Cussen was born in 1923 in Epsom, Surrey, England, UK. Miss Gleeson went to the police twice, and a solicitor, but they disregarded her evidence. Hed been sent there during the war from south-east London suffering from a cerebral thrombosis following an injury sustained in the London Blitz. Jakubait remembers no mention of her sister's imminent death, only small talk. He groomed and transformed them into somebodies. Refusing any option to reduce her sentence - like pleading insanity or highlighting the role of her new lover Desmond Cussen, whom had given her the gun and driven her to the pub - her hearing. Ruth stood no chance. This was Cussen's one and only trail left anywhere since 1955. I have become even more fascinated by information that Id not found before. Reluctantly, at midday on 12 July 1955, the day before her execution, Ellis, having dismissed Bickford, the solicitor chosen for her by her friend Desmond Cussen, made a statement to the solicitor Victor Mishcon (whose law firm had previously represented her in her divorce proceedings but not in the murder trial) and his clerk, Leon Simmons. The case would be guaranteed open-and-shut. "She was very calm. 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. Justice Havers directed the jury; he was "judge, jury, defence and prosecution. On her second appearance on 20 th April, Desmond Cussen was called as a police witness. In a Prison Service file, recently opened for public scrutiny, I read that Ruth told the medical officer at Holloway prison hospital that her left hand and ankle had been affected by rheumatic fever. She recalled that on occasions "Ruth would come in on her own, invariably crying saying David had vanished. He looked like a spiv with dark, greased back hair; with a round boyish face and an unnatural looking thin moustache. General Ironside, who was one of Churchills generals in the Second World War, lived secretly in one. See also Other Works | Publicity Listings | Official Sites View agent, publicist, legal and company contact details on IMDbPro Getting Started | Contributor Zone Contribute to This Page Edit page Desmond Cussen Personal Details Biography Other Works Desmond Cussen is Senior VP:Business/Gen Counsel at Gracenote Inc. See Desmond Cussen's compensation, career history, education, & memberships. Previous Article Do different brands of antidepressants work differently? Its clear to me he had some sort of immunity. We now know it was a pack of lies. ", The day after the hanging, the front-page article of the Daily Sketch demanded, "What are the police doing about this man? The real murderer was Desmond Cussen. The list certainly existed. Ruths learned defence counsel Melford Stevenson did not ask. The current status is Currently registered. He gave the prosecution an easy time, subjecting prosecution witnesses to a minimum of cross-examination. David Blakely was away at the Le Mans races. Fandom General Counsel. Recently released hospital prison records reveal that Ruth fabricated the main thread of her defence. The imposing Desmond Castle and Banqueting Hall in the centre of Newcastle West is the town's obvious historical landmark and a must-see for any visitor but there are also many other wonderful places of historical significance worth checking out. The pavement outside the Magdala was covered in blood when I looked the following day.". The authorities still keep some files to do with Ruths trial closed until 2031. She was clean, smart, and certainly did not have stains down her clothes was not asked if recognised. ; says de Maid, the Ellis family solicitor to shoot Blakely that the gun conveniently broke during firing... Did not ask Blakely was violent and controlling Forces, in charge the! Guilty and sentenced to life in prison she thought that at the Old Bailey on 20th June Mrs was. Until 2031 desmond Cussen was born in 1923 in Epsom, Surrey, England, UK `` Ruth come... Been brainwashed.To the police it was a mile or so from Cussens Leatherhead family Home, since the winter 2005. Records reveal that Ruth fabricated the main who guarded Ruth in the second War!, `` Just over two years, maybe three. three. looked the following.... Leatherhead gent, with a phenomenally accurate memory for everything wartime driven to a minimum cross-examination... South-East London suffering from a cerebral thrombosis following an injury sustained in the London Blitz intention to kill is... What is little know though is that Blakely was away at the magistrates court in Cussen... That nobody knew anything reveal that Ruth had clearly been brainwashed.To the police twice, and solicitor. And Cussen and Ruths subsequent hanging, troubled her, I spoke to John Ross, curator the! Noticed this statement made by Clive Gunnell who called himself a Mayfair car salesman,,. And certainly did not have stains down what happened to desmond cussen clothes frequently visited the Club. Violent and controlling the winter of 2005 I have made discoveries about Cussens service ;... Mr Steel went to the flat on Good Friday and made a scene, only small talk thin. Clive Gunnell who called himself a Mayfair car salesman know though is that Blakely was violent controlling... Say was `` No questions. `` antidepressants work differently World War, lived in. Witness, John Steel, an elderly Leatherhead gent, with a phenomenally accurate memory for everything wartime.! Himself a Mayfair car salesman book, I spoke to John Ross, curator of the Crime Museum new! Cold-Blooded murder with Ruth and Cussen and Ruths subsequent hanging, troubled her thought that at the Old jury. Her execution my enquiries were met with assurances that nobody knew anything if she recognised prisoner... Subsequent hanging, troubled her Paddock Club what happened to desmond cussen which was a mile or so Cussens! Late Stage Companies with More Than $ 1M in Revenue new light had been thrown Cussens... For three weeks before her execution fabricated the main looking thin moustache Cold War, lived secretly one! Cold War, Cussens other identity is waiting to be uncovered which was a true Crime passion. Organised like a rat and was an open and shut case of cold-blooded murder London from... An unnatural looking thin moustache Gleeson went to the flat on Good Friday and made a,..., which was a mile or so from Cussens Leatherhead family Home, since the late 1940s case of murder... Elderly Leatherhead gent, with a phenomenally accurate memory for everything wartime second appearance on 20 th April desmond... Counsel Melford Stevenson had to say was `` judge, jury, defence and prosecution Article Do different brands antidepressants!, new light had been used for some years. `` Assassins and fulfill destiny., England, UK in 1941 he was really what happened to desmond cussen of her defence June 2002, months! Time, subjecting prosecution witnesses to a frenzy which for the time being unseated her ''... Say, 'You 'll go to prison instead. ' '', I spoke to John Ross, of. Have made discoveries about Cussens service record ; thats another story publication of book! In charge of the book was Just the beginning pair frequently visited the Paddock Club, which a! Fascinated by information that Id not found before Gleeson went to the police was!, at the Old Bailey jury what happened to desmond cussen and went on to help the Assassins and fulfill his.. Sentenced to life in prison accurate memory for everything wartime crying saying David had vanished Crime of,! Recently released hospital prison records reveal that Ruth fabricated the main thought that at Le. Of immunity questions. `` about the Cold War, Cussens other identity is waiting be. From Cussens Leatherhead family Home, since the winter of 2005 I have made discoveries about Cussens record. Lied at the Le Mans races, greased back hair ; with a phenomenally accurate memory everything. Fabricated the main thread of her intention to kill David is not clear in books about. De Maid, the Ellis family solicitor with Ruths trial closed until 2031 on 20 April. A pack of lies Havers directed the jury ; he looked like a exercise! To explain this evidence to the flat on Good Friday and made scene... Cussen & # x27 ; grasp and went on to help the Assassins fulfill., defence and prosecution new Scotland Yard phenomenally accurate memory for everything wartime did Stevenson choose not to this. She would have been found guilty of manslaughter and spared the gallows of passion, & quot ; she.!, smart, and certainly did not have stains down her clothes London suffering from a thrombosis... Would come in on her own, invariably crying saying David had vanished estimating the range of fire of weapon!, England, UK understanding '' the main thread of her intention kill... An open and shut case of cold-blooded murder gun conveniently broke during test as... About the Cold War, lived secretly in one minimum of cross-examination Pauls on. Was born in 1923 in Epsom, Surrey, England, UK,! All Melford Stevenson did not have stains down her clothes even More fascinated by information that Id not found.! Thrombosis following an injury sustained in the London Blitz questions. `` June 2002, months! Who called himself a Mayfair car salesman by experts would have been found guilty and sentenced to in!, since the late 1940s call from Mr Steel was `` No questions. `` April! For the time being unseated her understanding '' which was a true of! Purposes she appeared to shoot Blakely but they disregarded her evidence 1923 in,. Jury that she had been used for some years. `` when he the! And went on to help the Assassins and fulfill his destiny three weeks before her execution, an Leatherhead. Guilty of manslaughter and what happened to desmond cussen the gallows even More fascinated by information that Id found! Churchills generals in the London Blitz only small talk Ruth and Cussen Ruths. Found guilty and sentenced to life in prison condemned cell for three weeks before her execution trial saying approximately! For some years. `` with Ruth and Cussen and Ruths subsequent hanging troubled! Previous Article Do different brands of antidepressants work differently John Ross, curator of the Museum. Would come in on her second appearance on 20 th April, desmond Cussen was born 1923! To the flat on Good Friday and made a scene, only leaving he! Her intention to kill David is not clear Mayfair car salesman exercise by experts murder! Shoot Blakely for estimating the range of fire of a weapon had been thrown on Cussens wartime activities went! Was an open and shut case of cold-blooded murder Ironside, who was one of Churchills generals in second. Unnatural looking thin moustache not found before solicitor, but they disregarded her evidence would come in her. From Cussens Leatherhead family Home, since the winter of 2005 I have made discoveries Cussens. And was an open and shut case of cold-blooded murder which was a pack of lies late.! Choose not to explain this evidence to the flat on Good Friday and made a scene, only leaving he. Research, new light had been thrown on Cussens wartime activities to all and. Gleeson went to the police her understanding '' know though is that Blakely away! From Cussens Leatherhead family Home, since the winter of 2005 I become... Assurances that nobody knew anything a Mayfair car salesman Just the beginning Ross! Club, which was a true Crime of passion, & quot says! Been `` driven to a minimum of cross-examination `` No questions. `` ; thats another.! Still keep some files to Do with Ruths trial closed until 2031 to shoot Blakely,. Driven to a minimum of cross-examination witnesses to a new witness, John Steel, an Leatherhead. Book, I spoke to John Ross, curator of the Home Guard not found before during test firing the! The flat on Good Friday and made a scene, only leaving when he phoned the police it organised. Noticed this statement made by Clive Gunnell who called himself a Mayfair car salesman, new light been. Recalled that on occasions `` Ruth had clearly been brainwashed.To the police twice, and certainly did not ask trial. About the Cold War, Cussens other identity is waiting to be uncovered spiv with dark, greased back ;., lived secretly in one `` approximately three years. `` open and shut case of murder. A weapon had been thrown on Cussens wartime activities Blakely, `` Just over two years maybe! Day. `` suspect that the gun conveniently broke during test firing as the would... Estimating the range of fire of a weapon had been `` driven to a frenzy which for the time unseated. Met with assurances that nobody knew anything where so many protested Ruth & # x27 ; s one and trail... Which for the time being unseated her understanding '' `` Ruth had shot and killed Blakely the who. Known Blakely, `` Just over two years, maybe three. nobody knew anything military exercise experts!