Ronald True

Ronald True Murder of Olive Young 1922

Ronald True (1891–1951) was a British murderer who was convicted of the murder of a prostitute named Gertrude Yates in 1922. His case became notable due to the legal and medical debates it sparked regarding the insanity defense and the treatment of mental illness in the criminal justice system.

Early Life

Ronald True was born in 1891. He was the son of a British Army officer and had a privileged upbringing. True served in the Royal Flying Corps during World War I, where he sustained injuries that some later argued affected his mental health.

The Murder of Gertrude Yates

In March 1922, True was arrested for the murder of Gertrude Yates, a prostitute, in her flat in Bayswater, London. Yates was found strangled, and True was quickly identified as the prime suspect due to his presence at the scene and the evidence linking him to the crime.

Trial and Conviction

True's trial took place at the Old Bailey in May 1922. His defense argued that he was insane at the time of the murder, citing his erratic behavior and mental health issues. However, the prosecution contended that True was fully aware of his actions. The jury found True guilty of murder, and he was sentenced to death.

Insanity Defense and Commutation

Following his conviction, there was significant public and legal debate over True's mental state. Medical experts provided conflicting opinions on whether True was suffering from a mental illness that impaired his judgment. Due to these uncertainties, True's death sentence was commuted to life imprisonment by the Home Secretary.

Imprisonment and Death

Ronald True spent the remainder of his life in Broadmoor Hospital, a high-security psychiatric hospital. He died in 1951.

Legacy

The case of Ronald True is often cited in discussions about the insanity defense and the treatment of mentally ill offenders within the criminal justice system. It highlighted the complexities and challenges of assessing mental health in legal contexts.

Related Pages

• Insanity defense
• Broadmoor Hospital
• Old Bailey
• Royal Flying Corps
• Home Secretary