Carole Gould and Julie Devey, united by the tragic murders of their daughters Ellie Gould and Poppy Devey Waterhouse, are leading a campaign to reform sentencing laws. Their advocacy stems from a perceived injustice in how the legal system treats perpetrators of domestic violence homicides compared to those who commit stranger killings.
Ellie Gould was murdered by her ex-boyfriend, who was sentenced to 12 and a half years in prison. Her mother, Carole, pointed out that this sentence was considerably less than the starting point for someone convicted of murdering a stranger on the street. "It just didn't seem right that a person who bought a knife and murdered a stranger on the street faced a 25-year starting point, whereas someone who murdered a partner or ex-partner at home with a kitchen knife faces a 15-year starting point," Carole stated, questioning the fairness of the existing guidelines.
Carole Gould and Julie Devey met after their daughters' deaths, finding common ground in their grief and their determination to seek legislative change. The campaign, which has seen them co-found a group named 'Killed Women,' aims to bring attention to these sentencing disparities and advocate for a more equitable system.
Ellie Gould was murdered by a former boyfriend who had recently had his relationship with her ended. He had emailed teachers to feign illness before taking his ex-girlfriend's family car to her home, where he strangled and repeatedly stabbed her. Carole Gould noted the poignant irony that her daughter had completed a school assignment on the punishment of child murderers shortly before her own death.
Julie Devey's daughter, Poppy, was murdered five months prior to Ellie's death. The shared experience of losing a child to violence has fueled the mothers' resolve to influence policy. Their efforts have involved engaging with the media and politicians to raise awareness and push for reforms.
Through their activism, Gould and Devey are seeking to ensure that the legal framework better reflects the severity of all homicides, regardless of the relationship between the victim and the perpetrator. The campaign, driven by personal tragedy, aims to bring about systemic change in the justice system.
