In February 1967, Ronald Ryan became the last man to be hanged in which country, for murdering a guard while escaping from prison in 1965?
Ronald Ryan Ronald Ryan Ronald Joseph Ryan (21 February 1925 – 3 February 1967) was the last person to be legally executed in Australia. Ryan was found guilty of shooting and killing warder George Hodson during an escape from Pentridge Prison, Victoria, in 1965. Ryan's hanging was met with some of the largest public protests in the history of Australia and led to the end of capital punishment. The death penalty was abolished in all states by 1985. Ronald Edmond Thompson was born at the Royal Women's Hospital in Melbourne's inner suburb of Carlton, to John Ronald Ryan and Cecilia Thompson (née
Ronald Ryan "... I state most emphatically that I am not guilty of murder." Ryan's last letter was to his daughters, it contained this line "With regard to my guilt I say only that I am innocent of intent and have a clear conscience in the matter." Ryan refused to have any sedatives but he did have a nip of whisky, and walked calmly onto the gallows trapdoor. Ronald Ryan's last words were to the hangman; "God bless you, please make it quick." Ryan was hanged in 'D' Division at Pentridge Prison at 8:00 am on Friday 3 February 1967. A nationwide