Schoolgirl’s teenage killer named by judge after guilty plea
THE teenage killer of a “kind, caring” schoolgirl has been named by a judge, after he admitted stabbing her to death in her own home.
Ellie Gould, 17, was found with terrible injuries at her family address on Springfield Drive in Calne, Wiltshire, at around 3.15pm on May 3. She was pronounced dead shortly afterwards.
The popular student was described as an animal lover with a “wonderful, fun personality” who had hoped to turn her passion for horse-riding into a career as a mounted police officer.
Police quickly identified and tracked down the man they suspected of her murder, a 17-year-old who was yesterday named as Thomas Griffiths, of Derry Hill, Wilts.
It is understood Ms Gould knew her killer and detectives do not believe the attack upon her had been “random”.
Griffiths initially denied seeing Ms Gould on the days surrounding her death, but yesterday morning he appeared before Bristol Crown Court to plead guilty to her murder.
He had not been publicly identified as a suspect due to his age until Judge Peter Blair QC, the Recorder of Bristol, lifted reporting restrictions.
The judge said the teenager, who will be sentenced on Nov 8, had admitted to an “extremely grave crime”.
Griffiths spoke only to confirm his name and reply “guilty” when the charge was put to him.
Speaking after the conviction, temporary Det Chief Insp Jim Taylor, of Wiltshire Police, said: “Ellie was murdered as a result of a violent attack.
“Ellie was in her first year of sixth form and was looking forward to the next steps in her education. Her parents have told me that she was considering a career in the police and had been looking into attending university.
“The options available to Ellie were endless but her hopes and dreams will now sadly never be realised,” he said.
He expressed relief that Ms Gould’s family would not be subjected to the ordeal of a full trial but said it would do little to ease the pain of having her “cruelly taken away from them in unthinkable circumstances”.
Her family previously paid tribute in a statement which painted a picture of a girl who was “a joy to be around”. Next month, one of her friends will run the Chippenham Half Marathon to raise money for a charity she supported, the Riding for the Disabled Association.
Lisa Percy, the head teacher of Hardenhuish School where Ms Gould had been studying, said pupils and staff were “absolutely devastated” by her death. “Ellie was an extremely popular student in our lower sixth form, who was preparing for her A-levels the following year,” she said.
“She was popular, friendly and very talented and understandably her death has hugely impacted on our school.
“Her close-knit group of friends have shown strength beyond their young years in the months that have followed Ellie’s death, and have supported one another extraordinarily well,” she added.