Ludovic Henry Coverley Kennedy

Distinguished journalist Sir Ludovic Kennedy has passed away at the age of 89. He had been frail for some time, having developing pneumonia after a fall.

Sir Kennedy made his name as an investigative writer, writing for such publications as Newsweek, before going on to become a newsreader for ITN News and later present BBC's Panorama.

Ludovic was best known for his opposition to the death penalty and interest in miscarriages in justice. His book "Ten Rillington Place" argued that Welshman Timothy Evans should not have been hung in 1950 for the murder of his baby daughter, as the crime has been committed by the reknown serial killer John Christie, who lived in the same building. This book has been credited with helping to sway public opinion which eventually led to the abolition of the death penalty in 1969. As a result of his work, Evans was granted a posthumous pardon in 1970.

In February 1950 he married the dancer and actress Moira Shearer in the Chapel Royal at Hampton Court Palace. They were married for 56 years until her death in 2006 at the age of 80.

Ludovic leaves behind one son and three daughters.