Zsiga Pankotia

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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