This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-wiltshire-50345911

The article has changed 8 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 2 Version 3
Ellie Gould murder: Thomas Griffiths stabbed teen when she dumped him Ellie Gould murder: Thomas Griffiths stabbed teen when she dumped him
(32 minutes later)
A teenager stabbed his 17-year-old girlfriend repeatedly in the neck in a "frenzied attack" when she dumped him.A teenager stabbed his 17-year-old girlfriend repeatedly in the neck in a "frenzied attack" when she dumped him.
Thomas Griffiths admitted murdering Ellie Gould at her home in Calne, Wiltshire, in May, when she ended their relationship.Thomas Griffiths admitted murdering Ellie Gould at her home in Calne, Wiltshire, in May, when she ended their relationship.
The next day, Griffiths, now aged 18, went to the schoolgirl's house, killed her and tried to make it appear she had inflicted the wounds on herself.The next day, Griffiths, now aged 18, went to the schoolgirl's house, killed her and tried to make it appear she had inflicted the wounds on herself.
He was jailed for a minimum of 12 and a half years at Bristol Crown Court.He was jailed for a minimum of 12 and a half years at Bristol Crown Court.
Carole Gould said there was nothing in Griffiths' behaviour before her daughter's death that "would ring alarm bells".Carole Gould said there was nothing in Griffiths' behaviour before her daughter's death that "would ring alarm bells".
"We welcomed him into our home. We ate dinner with him," she said."We welcomed him into our home. We ate dinner with him," she said.
The packed courtroom heard the night before Griffiths murdered her, Ellie had told friends they had broken up and he had "not taken it well".The packed courtroom heard the night before Griffiths murdered her, Ellie had told friends they had broken up and he had "not taken it well".
The pair were A-level students at Hardenhuish School in Chippenham, had known each other since Year 7, and been in a relationship for three months.The pair were A-level students at Hardenhuish School in Chippenham, had known each other since Year 7, and been in a relationship for three months.
Griffiths walked out of school on the morning of 3 May and drove to Ellie's home in Springfield Drive.Griffiths walked out of school on the morning of 3 May and drove to Ellie's home in Springfield Drive.
There he attempted to strangle her, before stabbing her repeatedly in the neck with a knife taken from the kitchen. There he attempted to strangle her, before stabbing her 13 times in the neck with a knife taken from the kitchen.
A statement was read out in court from Ellie's father, Matt Gould, who found her lying on the kitchen floor with the knife still in her neck.A statement was read out in court from Ellie's father, Matt Gould, who found her lying on the kitchen floor with the knife still in her neck.
He said it was "the most frightening, horrific and saddest scene I have ever experienced" and it "fills my thoughts all day".He said it was "the most frightening, horrific and saddest scene I have ever experienced" and it "fills my thoughts all day".
Evidence suggested Griffiths had put Ellie's hand on the weapon to make it look like she had done it to herself.Evidence suggested Griffiths had put Ellie's hand on the weapon to make it look like she had done it to herself.
The court heard Griffiths spent an hour at the house before he drove home, changed his clothes, and dumped a bag of items taken from Ellie's house in a wood. The court heard Griffiths spent an hour at the house before he drove home, changed his clothes and dumped a bag of items taken from Ellie's house in a wood.
Later that day he sent a series of "fake" messages to friends and to Ellie's mobile phone asking if she wanted to meet.Later that day he sent a series of "fake" messages to friends and to Ellie's mobile phone asking if she wanted to meet.
Griffiths also told friend marks on his neck were caused by self-harm but the court heard they most likely caused by his "young victim fighting for her life".Griffiths also told friend marks on his neck were caused by self-harm but the court heard they most likely caused by his "young victim fighting for her life".
Sentencing him, Judge Mr Justice Garnham told Griffiths his actions had been a "frenzied knife attack" and "the most appalling act" on a "vulnerable young woman in her own home where she should have been safe".Sentencing him, Judge Mr Justice Garnham told Griffiths his actions had been a "frenzied knife attack" and "the most appalling act" on a "vulnerable young woman in her own home where she should have been safe".
He said Ellie had "tried desperately to fight back, scratching frantically at your neck" and "most chilling is that you left her on the kitchen floor with the knife still in her neck and with her left hand on the knife".He said Ellie had "tried desperately to fight back, scratching frantically at your neck" and "most chilling is that you left her on the kitchen floor with the knife still in her neck and with her left hand on the knife".
The judge told Griffiths it was one of several steps he had taken to "cover your tracks".
"There can be no more dreadful scene for any parent to contemplate than that which confronted Ellie's father when he came home that day from work," Mr Justice Garnham said."There can be no more dreadful scene for any parent to contemplate than that which confronted Ellie's father when he came home that day from work," Mr Justice Garnham said.
The court had previously heard Ellie was a keen horse rider who competed in local shows and cross-country events, and talked of joining the mounted police.The court had previously heard Ellie was a keen horse rider who competed in local shows and cross-country events, and talked of joining the mounted police.
'Destroyed lives'
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."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."
The court was told that following his guilty plea in May, Griffiths had written a letter outlining his "heartfelt remorse". The court was told that following his guilty plea in August, Griffiths had written a letter outlining his "heartfelt remorse".
In it, he said: "I feel confused and angry at myself that I was able to hurt someone so special to me."In it, he said: "I feel confused and angry at myself that I was able to hurt someone so special to me."
Det Ch Insp Jim Taylor of Wiltshire Police said Griffiths ended Ellie's life "in the cruellest way imaginable" and "destroyed the lives of those who were close to her".Det Ch Insp Jim Taylor of Wiltshire Police said Griffiths ended Ellie's life "in the cruellest way imaginable" and "destroyed the lives of those who were close to her".