Ellie Gould's mum calls for tougher sentences for coercive killers

17-year-old Ellie was stabbed to death by her ex-boyfriend, Thomas Griffiths, at her home in Calne in May, 2019, after ending their relationship.

Griffiths was jailed for a minimum of 12 and a half years after attempting to strangle Ellie, before stabbing her in the neck 13 times with a knife from the kitchen.

Ellie’s mum Carole has since joined forces with Julie Devey, whose daughter Poppy Devey Waterhouse was murdered by her ex-boyfriend Joe Atkinson, to campaign for a higher sentencing starting point of 25 years for all murders where excessive force has been used.

Carole Gould has been campaigning for tougher sentences (Image: SWNS)

The pair both feel their daughters have been “let down” by the justice system.

Mrs Gould said: “I can't believe it takes two grieving mothers to point out all these failures in our justice system.

"When we first got Ellie's sentencing, I discovered that a 10-year-old is treated the same as someone who is 17 when it comes to murder.

"You just think why has nobody questioned that before and who thinks that is right?

"That is what I find incredible, how has nobody questioned that before and thought 'well that's archaic we need to amend that.'

"This is what has driven me to campaign for change - I am devastated that's all Ellie's life was worth.

"12-and-a-half years to end a beautiful life with such a bright future in such a horrific way and that is the punishment.

"It has taken four years of campaigning to shout to the right people to say this is wrong - it is exhausting."

Carole and Ellie Gould

Last month Dominic Raab announced new laws will be introduced to ensure a history of coercive or controlling behaviour against a victim, or gratuitous violence, will be considered aggravating factors during sentencing in murder cases.

But while a public consultation will be launched to determine whether a higher sentencing starting point of 25 years should be applied to these cases, currently the 25-year minimum only applies when a weapon has been taken to the scene with intent.

The mum’s welcomed these new laws but argued they don’t go far enough and are calling for a 25-year minimum in all overkill, defined as the use of force that goes further than what is necessary to kill, and strangulation murders.

The Ministry of Justice said all murders carry a life sentence and responsibility for deciding the minimum prison term lies with judges.