Ellie Gould's mother backs longer sentences for killers

Ellie was attacked with a kitchen knife at her home in Calne

The mother of a teenage girl whose "future was stolen" by her ex-boyfriend has backed the prospect of longer sentences for domestic murder.

Ellie Gould, 17, was stabbed to death by Thomas Griffiths at her home in Calne, Wiltshire, in 2019.

He was jailed for a minimum of 12-and-a half years but now ex-partners who kill following a break-up could face longer sentences.

"This is a very important step towards justice," said Carole Gould.

"She [Ellie] was a delightful girl who was full of positivity, if these laws were already in place, we could have had real justice," Ms Gould added.

"The seriousness of this crime is finally being acknowledged - my beautiful daughter's future was stolen."

Ellie was stabbed to death in May 2019

Building on plans announced in March, the reforms would make murdering an ex-partner an aggravating factor when sentencing an offender.

Greater protection could also be introduced for victims who kill their partners due to experiences of coercive control which would lead to a lower sentence.

Announcing the newest proposed measures on Thursday, Lord Chancellor and Justice Secretary Alex Chalk KC said: "Cowards who murder their partners should face the full force of the law."

It comes after an independent review of domestic homicide sentencing by Clare Wade KC, which was published in March.

It found sentencing does not take into consideration that many domestic murders happen after years of abuse.

Domestic homicide is defined as a death that occurs due to violence, abuse or neglect by a partner, ex-partner, relative or member of the same household.

BBC West Home Affairs correspondent Fiona Lamdin

I'm sat around the kitchen table where I've interviewed Carole Gould and Julie Devey many times.

It's the room where Carole's 17-year-old daughter Ellie was brutally stabbed by her ex-boyfriend Thomas Griffiths as she revised for her A-levels.

It's impossible not to think about that.

But today, for the first time in four years of following their very painful journey, there's a sense of real relief and hope.

At last, they feel their campaigning is making a difference and they are hopeful a change in the law will follow.

Both these mothers know it's too late for them - too late to extend the sentences their daughters' killers received. But they hope when it comes to parole, it may make a difference.

An independent review found that Ellie was subjected to "coercive control" before her death in May 2019.

Ms Gould said: "We need to recognise how dangerous the domestic killer is.

"The fact that Griffiths had a relationship with my daughter before killing her - it makes it even more shocking. These perpetrators need to be locked away for a long time."

Charity Women's Aid have also responded to the government's proposed overhaul of punishments for domestic killers.

Farah Nazeer, chief executive, said: "We know that the end of a relationship with an abuser poses severe danger to a woman's life.

"Murder is not a loss of control, but instead a perpetrator taking ultimate control over a woman's life, and it is important to finally see this reflected in sentences handed down by the courts."

Carole Gould said her daughter Ellie would have wanted her to "keep fighting"

Ms Gould successfully campaigned for tougher sentences for teenage killers, known as Ellie's Law, and she joined the Killed Women campaign, which was launched to tackle male violence against women.

"About 25% of murders happen in the home, and the victims are pre-dominantly women," said Ms Gould.

"The law needs to change to protect women from this evil crime.

"Ellie had an amazing, bright future ahead of her, she was loved by so many people - I don't want perpetrators to keep getting away with this."

Along with the mother of Poppy Devey-Waterhouse from Frome, Somerset, who was murdered in similar circumstances, Ms Gould said she also wants sentences increased for killers who use a weapon they find at the scene.

Both Ellie and Poppy, 24, were killed with knives their ex-boyfriends found in their homes.

Poppy Devey-Waterhouse and Ellie Gould were victims of domestic murder

As well as the changes to sentencing guidelines, the government will also ask the Law Commission to review the use of defences in domestic homicide cases, including the partial defences of "loss of control" and "diminished responsibility".

Mr Chalk added: "Our reforms will give judges the power to punish murderers for the added pain and trauma they inflict through 'overkill' as well as ensuring that those who coercively control their victims or kill them at the end of a relationship face longer behind bars."

Legislation to implement the changes to the sentencing framework will be laid as soon as parliamentary time allows, The Ministry of Justice said.

Follow BBC West on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Send your story ideas to: [e-mail]