A Legal Loophole for Life
For over 700 years, women in England could avoid execution by claiming they were pregnant. Known as “pleading the belly,” this tactic allowed pregnant women sentenced to death to delay execution until after childbirth. Often, the death penalty was reduced to a lesser sentence once the baby was born.
The Role of Juries of Matrons
To verify pregnancy claims, courts used all-female juries called “juries of matrons.” These women examined the accused to determine if they were genuinely pregnant. Their decisions, based on detecting “quickening” or fetal movement, were widely accepted and rarely disputed.
Notable Cases in History
In 1789, Ann Davis was sentenced to death for theft in Australia. She pleaded the belly, but the jury of matrons declared her not pregnant, leading to her execution. In contrast, Elizabeth McGree in 1882 successfully pleaded the belly, resulting in her death sentence being commuted after giving birth in prison.
The End of an Era
By the late 19th century, advances in medical science and skepticism about female jurors led to the decline of juries of matrons. The practice ended, and women gained equal rights to serve on juries in Australia only in 1997.
How Pregnancy Saved Women from Execution 🤰
A Legal Loophole for Life
For over 700 years, women in England could avoid execution by claiming they were pregnant. Known as “pleading the belly,” this tactic allowed pregnant women sentenced to death to delay execution until after… pic.twitter.com/oSYXg8xSkX— Detective Tiger’s Stories (@TigerDetective) October 12, 2024