Ellie Gould family ‘disappointed’ after appeal against killer’s sentence rejected

The family of Ellie Gould say they are “bitterly disappointed” after their appeal against her killer’s sentence was rejected.

Ellie, from Calne in Wiltshire, was brutally murdered in her own home by Thomas Griffiths in May this year.

Griffiths, who was also 17-years-old at the time, repeatedly stabbed the teen in a “frenzied knife attack” after she ended their relationship.

He was jailed for a minimum of 12-and-a half years - a sentence Ellie’s mum Carole described as an “insult” on ITV News West Country earlier this week.

The family want Griffiths to serve at least 17 years behind bars - one for each year of Ellie’s life - and had written to the Attorney General’s Office, seeking a review.

But the Attorney General’s office has today confirmed the case will not be considered for an appeal, suggesting it had not met “the test” required.

‘Threshold is a high one’

In a short statement, a spokesperson for the Attorney General’s Office said cases can only be referred to the Court of Appeal if a sentence is “not just lenient but unduly so”.

The confirmation has come as a huge blow to the Gould family, who had hoped Griffiths’ sentence would be extended.

In a statement, the family said they feel like they have been “let down” by the British justice system.