FACE OF A KILLER
3 chilling clues that gave away killer schoolboy who knifed ex Ellie Gould, 17, then staged her death as ‘suicide’
A TEEN killer placed a bloody knife in his ex's hand and plunged it in her neck to stage a fake suicide after stabbing her to death, a documentary reveals.
Ellie Gould, 17, was knifed at least 13 times by jilted Thomas Griffiths, 18, in her family home in Calne, Wilts, in May 2019.
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She was discovered in a pool of blood by her dad Matthew after Griffiths, then 17, snapped when Ellie rejected his pleas to get back together.
The callous killer had inserted the knife into Ellie's neck and placed it in her hands to stage a fake suicide before attempting to clean the crime scene.
But new documentary Killer at The Crime Scene on 5STAR reveals the three clues officers found that helped snare the monster.
Despite Ellie's mum's fears there had been a botched burglary at the home, experts found there was no obvious sign of a break in and nothing appeared to be stolen.
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The crime scene had also been cleaned slightly with a string of items missing - including tea towels that could have been used to mop up Ellie's blood.
Senior Investigating Officer Jim Taylor tells the show: "There was a large amount of blood. There was still a knife in her neck. Ellie was found face down and the handle was on the handle of the knife, which was in the left side of her neck.
"We have to consider all options. You know, is this a suicide or is this an accident or is it indeed a homicide.
"We called the services of a forensic pathologist, so a forensic pathologist will interpret the way the body has been left, to look at the circumstances surrounding the body.
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"The pathologist said this was not an accident and Ellie had suffered catastrophic injuries to her neck. They counted 13 wounds. Potentially could have been more because the knife was still within her neck at the time.
"We were able to ascertain that the knife used was from a block in the family home and yes there were signs of a struggle the examination was also able to ascertain was that she had been strangled prior to being stabbed. And most likely was that she was incapacitated at the point she was stabbed."
A manhunt was launched for Ellie's killer after neighbours revealed they saw a hooded man in dark clothing acting suspiciously in the area.
Digital forensic specialists then harvested data from Ellie’s phone and discovered a text sent to a pal cancelling a lift to school.
Police believed the message was only sent to evade suspicion and buy more time to clean up the crime scene.
Convinced Ellie knew her killer, officers quickly honed in on her jealous ex-boyfriend Griffiths.
WEB OF LIES
Det Supt Taylor says: "He gave the appearance he was surprised as to why he was being spoken to by officers and then he came across as in shock like a rabbit caught in headlights.
"He looked pretty frightened.
"He immediately said 'is this about my girlfriend? I haven't seen her and I'm a bit worried about her'.
"Nothing suggested at that moment in time it was Ellie we were talking about so it was an unusual thing to say and it instantly raised suspicion."
Griffiths spun a web of lies to cover up his gruesome crime.
This included a selfie he sent to pals claiming he had been "scratching" himself due to the stress he was under to explain injuries he had received as Ellie desperately tried to fight back.
These "defence wounds" heaped more suspicion on the killer, the show reveals.
Det Supt Taylor says: "You know, he's presenting with what we would describe as defence wounds.
"When you attack someone, their instant reaction is to fight back and protect themselves. with injuries like that, it automatically again raises your suspicions."
Officers began tracing Griffiths' movements and discovered CCTV of him on a bus despite his mum dropping him at school that morning.
He then drove the family car - despite not having a licence - to Ellie's house where he brutally murdered the teen.
Following the horror, Griffiths drove back home before dumping a number of items he had used to clear up the crime scene in woodland.
When faced with an overwhelming trove of evidence, the monster admitted murder.
Griffiths was jailed for life with a minimum of just 12 years and six months in 2019.
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Dad Matthew and Ellie's mum Carole previously slammed the sentence, which could see Griffiths back roaming the streets by the time he is 30.
- Killer at The Crime Scene continues on 5STAR on August 25 at 9pm
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