Section:GDN 1N PaGe:11 Edition Date:190830 Edition:01 Zone: Sent at 29/8/2019 18:51 cYanmaGentaYellowb
Friday 30 Aug ust 2019 The Guardian •
National^11
Judge names
boy, 17, who
murdered
Ellie Gould
at her home
Steven Morris
A teenager has admitted murdering
the 17-year-old student Ellie Gould,
who was found dead with stab wounds
at her family’s Wiltshire home.
Thomas Griffi ths, also 17, appeared
at Bristol crown court to plead guilty
to killing Ellie, a popular and talented
sixth-former who had ambitions of
becoming a police offi cer.
The judge, Peter Blair QC, the
recorder of Bristol, lifted reporting
restrictions that had prevented the
media from identifying Griffi ths. He
said the teenager had admitted an
“extremely grave crime” and it was
“appropriate, reasonable and pro-
portionate” to allow his identity to be
made public.
them further distress, I know just how
diffi cult this whole period has been
for them.
“They should have been enjoy-
ing the school holidays with their
daughter, but instead they are com-
ing to terms with the fact she has
been cruelly taken away from them
in unthinkable circumstances.”
Ellie’s family has paid tribute to the
keen horse rider and animal lover as
“fun-loving and a joy to be around”.
They said she had wondered if she
could join the police’s mounted divi-
sion. They added: “We would like Ellie
to be remembered as a kind, caring
young lady with a wonderful, fun
personality.”
Lisa Percy, headteacher of Harden-
huish school in Chippenham, where
Ellie was a student, said pupils and
staff were “absolutely devastated”
by her death. “Ellie was an extremely
popular student in our lower sixth
form who was preparing for her A-lev-
els,” she said.
“Her close-knit group of friends
have shown strength beyond their
young years in the months that have
followed Ellie’s death, and have sup-
ported one another extraordinarily
well. We continue to support our
students with the help of partner agen-
cies who have been invaluable to our
school during such an unprecedented
time. Our thoughts continue to remain
with Ellie’s family at this time.”
Griffi ths was remanded in custody.Griffi ths was arrested on 3 May
shortly after Wiltshire police were
called to Ellie’s family home in Calne.
Ellie, an A-level student , was discov-
ered with multiple stab wounds.
No motive for the attack was given
during the hearing or by the police.
More details will be released at a sen-
tencing hearing in November. Griffi ths,
of Derry Hill in Wiltshire, spoke only
to confi rm his name and reply “guilty”
when the charge was read to him.
Speaking after the hearing, tem-
porary DCI Jim Taylor said: “ While I
am pleased that Ellie’s family will not
have to endure a lengthy trial process
in court, which would have caused Ellie Gould, was stabbed to death
by Thomas Griffi ths, above. The judge
said it was an ‘extremely grave crime’,
and lifted reporting restrictionsRELEASED BY "What's News" vk.com/wsnws TELEGRAM: t.me/whatsnws