The mother of murdered school girl, Ellie Gould appeared on BBC Breakfast this morning to talk of her fight for justice for her daughter.
Earlier this month Thomas Griffiths, now 18, was jailed for 12 years and six months at Bristol Crown Court after pleading guilty to murdering 17-year-old Ellie Gould.
Griffiths had been in a relationship with Ellie for three months before Ellie ended the relationship on May 2 so she could focus on her studying.
The following morning, Griffiths was taken to school by his mum. But, instead of attending his lessons, Griffiths caught a bus back to Derry Hill before taking the family car, despite not having a driving licence, and drove to Ellie’s house in Calne.
A post mortem later showed Griffiths strangled Ellie and used a kitchen knife to stab her multiple times to the neck.
On the 8th November, Griffiths was sentenced to a minimum of 12 and a half years at Bristol Crown Court.
Today, Ellie's mum, Carole told BBC Breakfast that they had welcomed Thomas into the family, he often came to tea at the house on Monday evenings and would pop in during the week for a drink and snack before starting his evening part time job at Iceland in Calne town. The couple had been part of a big friendship group with their fellow students at Hardenhuish School in Chippenham.
Speaking of the sentence Carole said: "We were devastated when the sentence was passed down and feel completely let down by the British justice system.
"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 justice?"
When asked why she felt the sentence should be longer Carole explained that they feel there was an element of planning and premeditation.
Griffiths had claimed that on the morning of the murder he had arranged to study at Ellie's house, however, footage has shown that rather than stay on the bus he had taken from school, which would have brought him straight into Calne, he had opted to go home and change clothes to a black hooded top and black canvas shoes.
Reports show that whilst he was at his home, his mother had arrived back, but rather than make himself known, he had hidden in the wardrobe.
Griffiths then drove, without a licence, to Ellie's home but rather than parking on the drive, he parked up the road and was seen knocking at the door with his hood up.
Another focus for their appeal is the two years which were taken off his sentence by the Judge. One year was taken off because Griffiths had written a letter of remorse, but the Goulds feel there was no explanation as to why he had done it, or any sign of remorse within the letter. Carole Gould commented: "We feel that the Judge allowing a year off is a crime in itself."
A further year was taken off because Griffith's grandparents wrote a character statment saying that his actions had been out of character.
Carole said: "We want to grieve as parents and we don't feel we can all the time we're fighting for justice. In my mind I could have closure if he got 17 years because that was her life and it would give me peace of mind to move on and grieve for my daughter."
The Attorney General's office have said the case is under review and a decision as to whether it will go forward to appeal or not will be made on the 6th December.
