Edith Thompson: Hanged woman’s case denied pardon bid

Edith Thompson, a woman who was hanged in 1923 for her alleged involvement in the murder of her husband, has had her case denied for a posthumous pardon.

Thompson was convicted alongside her lover, Frederick Bywaters, for the murder of her husband Percy Thompson. The case garnered widespread attention at the time due to the sensational nature of the crime and the involvement of a married woman in an extramarital affair.

Despite maintaining her innocence throughout the trial and appeals process, Thompson was ultimately executed by hanging at Holloway Prison in London.

While there have been calls in recent years for Thompson to be pardoned based on new evidence and changing attitudes towards women’s rights, the British government has denied any requests for a posthumous pardon.

The case of Edith Thompson remains a controversial and tragic chapter in British legal history, highlighting the harsh treatment faced by women who defied societal expectations during the early 20th century.