Zsiga Pankotia (or Pankotai[1]) was a 31-year-old Hungarian-born murderer who was hanged on the 29 June 1961 at Armley Gaol, Leeds, West Yorkshire, (now HMP Leeds)[2]. He was hanged by Harry Allen for the murder of Jack Eli Myers[1] in a house burglary in the city's affluent Roundhay district. Under the Homicide Act 1957, Pankotia could be sentenced to hang because he had murdered Myers during a robbery (which was considered an exceptional circumstance, therefore hanging was an option open to the judiciary). He was the last man to be hanged at Armley Gaol.[3]
Pankotia was tried, convicted and sentenced at Leeds Crown Court and did not appeal against the decision. The hanging had been the first in Leeds since 1959.