Zsiga Pankotia

Zsiga Pankotia (or Pankotai[1]) was a 31-year-old Hungarian-born murderer who was hanged on Thursday, 29 June 1961 at Armley Gaol, Leeds, West Yorkshire, (now HM Prison 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.

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/displaycataloguedetails.asp?CATLN=6&CATID=7979102&j=1
  2. ↑ English & Welsh executions 1932 - 1964
  3. ↑ Sheffield Forum - Has there ever been a prison in Sheffield? - Page 3