Ellie Gould The case for change
The murder of Ellie Gould, a 17-year-old teenager from Calne, Wilts, is believed to be weighing on the Justice Secretary’s mind as he considers changes to the youth offenders sentencing regime.
Her murder in May last year – by her ex-boyfriend, Thomas Griffiths, inset – sent shockwaves through the local community, which borders Mr Buckland’s constituency of South Swindon.
During his trial, the court heard how Griffiths, 17 at the time of the murder, had strangled Ellie at her home before repeatedly stabbing her in the neck at least 13 times.
He attempted to clean up the crime scene and returned home.
Ellie was found by her father, Matthew, who returned home to discover his daughter lying motionless on the floor.
Griffiths was arrested outside a friend’s home that evening.
In November 2019, Griffiths pleaded guilty to murder and was jailed for a minimum of 12 and a half years at Bristol Crown Court.
During sentencing the judge told
Griffiths: “The effects of your actions have not only snuffed out the life of this talented girl ... but loaded pain on her friends and family.”
However, Ellie’s family said they had been left “devastated” by the sentence, with Carole, her mother, stating that they had been “completely let down by the British justice system”.
Mrs Gould said: “It just doesn’t seem right that a young girl can be sitting at home revising for her A-levels and somebody can come in and brutally murder her – and the perpetrator’s punishment is 12 and a half years. How is that ever, ever justice?”
The case was referred to Geoffrey Cox, the then attorney general, under the unduly lenient sentencing scheme. The family said they wanted Griffiths to serve at least 17 years in prison – one for each year of her life.
The family also met Mr Buckland and local MP James Gray as they attempted to build support to have the sentence overturned.
However, the following month the Attorney General ruled he could not refer the case to the Court of Appeal.
A spokesman said at the time a referral could only be made if a sentence “is not just lenient but unduly so”.