Jealous ex-boyfriend Asher Maslin will spend a minimum of 24 years behind bars following the brutal murder of Gloucester hairdresser, Hollie Gazzard.
A packed Gloucester Crown Court heard how the 22-year-old of Benhall Gardens in Cheltenham, sold his DVD player in order to buy a knife, hours before he stabbed pretty Hollie to death.
Her colleagues and customers at her work place in Fringe Benefits and La Bella Beauty salon looked on in horror as Maslin launched the attack on February 18, this year while the Southgate Street shop was open.
The former Chosen Hill schoolgirl had been with Maslin for a year and attempted to break up with him just days before the stabbing took place.
Unable to handle rejection, Maslin, took his DVD player to Cash Converters in Northgate Street, exchanged it for £5 and bought a knife in nearby Wilkinsons.
Prosecutor Stephen Mooney told the court how Hollie was considering getting an injunction out against Maslin in the run up to her death after he had previous tried to strangle her and even kicked her during one attack.
The rejection led to Maslin stealing her bank cards and emptying her account of £300 before going on a crack cocaine binge and sending her abusive text messages – even threatening to throw acid in her face.
While Maslin bought the knife, pretty Hollie was telling one of her customers Elma Rogers how she was scared to leave the house, apart from going to work.
Mr Mooney said following Hollie’s complaints to the police, officers had tried to arrest him in the days leading up to her murder, but could not find him.
After Maslin refused to leave when asked by Hollie, her colleague, Sian Pryslak, dialled 999 and customer Mark Moyer attempted to step in after he punched the hairdresser.
But Maslin, a former Churchdown School pupil, got out the knife and stabbed petite Hollie 14 times as she stood behind the reception desk before he ran off with those walking past the shop watching on in horror.
Mr Mooney said it was a “brutal and sustained” attack which left Hollie with injuries to her arms as she attempted to fight off Maslin.
He said Maslin had nine previous convictions, including one in 2011 for harassment after sending text messages to another previous girlfriend.
He told the court: “There was a significant degree of planning and pre-meditation. It was committed in a public place in front of a number of innocent bystanders. This was a case where the defendant had the intention to kill rather than cause grievous bodily harm.”
Hollie’s dad, Nick, a former Cheltenham Town footballer, read his victim impact statement to the court. Immediate after being told of her death the family were taken to a safe house as Maslin had previously threatened to hit him with a bat.
He told the court Hollie had seemed reluctant to go to work that morning worried Maslin would turn up by he had called her in the morning and she told her dad she loved him – that was the last time they ever spoke.
He said: “On Tuesday, February 18 our lives were destroyed. Since that day a part of us has died and our lives will never be the same.
“We have been asking, why someone would do this to our beautiful baby girl.
“I felt like I had not done enough to protect her.”
He went on to say having to identify Hollie’s body, although not being able to hold her was “the hardest most painful experience of my life and something that no parent should have to go through.
“This should never have happened. Why has he done this to her?,” Nick added.
“What is hardest is the brutality was caused by someone she once knew and cared for
“We tried our best to keep her safe but we were not there to protect her. As a father I feel I have failed.”
He told the court he felt the only justice would be for Maslin to spend his life in prison as they had a life sentence without Hollie.
Older sister Chloe brought the packed courtroom to tears with her heartfelt statement describing Maslin’s actions as evil.
She said: “The past few months have seemed like the longest of my life.
“Hollie was, and still is, my best friend.
“The thought of never seeing her again, just does not seem real.
“At this point I am still struggling to get my head around the severity of what Asher inflicted upon us.
“Asher has taken my little sister away all because he could not have her and wanted no one else to.
“I am trying to be strong, but I am struggling to cope day to day.
“I am feeling worthless as a daughter, partner and mother. I am frightened and I cannot be alone.
“My daughter Ruby loved her auntie so much. It breaks my heart thinking she will grow up without her in her life.
“Asher’s sole intention was to kill Hollie and there is nothing we could have done to stop it.
“All I can see is what Asher has done to her and I hate him.
“But Hollie will never be forgotten and any sentence will never bring her back.”
Defending Peter Blair QC said nothing he said was intended by Maslin, or his family, to diminish the magnitude of his actions that day.
He said: “The purchase of the knife was motivated by his paranoid fear of coming under attack himself.”
He told the court Maslin had been on a cocaine binge in London the weekend before the attack and returned to Gloucester the day before when he smoked crack cocaine, leading to severe paranoia on the day of the murder.
He said Maslin suffered from emotional instability and a personality disorder and doctors had described him as narcissistic and with paranoia brought on by the elicit substances he had been taken and four days without sleep.
In October Maslin had gone to A&E with Hollie to try to address some of his anger and drug problems.
He said: “He recognised some of the problems he was facing and he made some efforts at the end of last year to seek help. At that time he was tearful, distressed and suffering from nightmares.”
The court heard for the first time, Maslin had expressed remorse in murdering Hollie, when he wrote to the judge. In the letter it state: “I know no words I can say will ever take away the pain I have caused through taking the life of a special person and I wish I could take that back.”
He added he wanted to educate others so they would not end up in the same position as him.
Mr Blair said he entered no comment interviews to police on legal advice, but had, at the end of a second interview, said: “I am so sorry. I loved her so much.”
Mr Justice Teare 24 years in jail, after he pleaded guilty to her murder.
He told Maslin: “You have denied that the knife was purchased to harm Hollie, but because you believed your life was in danger.
“I am unable to believe that. Your text messages and walking to her place of work shows you had hostile intentions.
“The number of stab wounds on a defenceless young woman shows this was a merciless killing.”
Hollie’s family and supporters filled Gloucester Crown Court to hear the judgement on one of the city’s most horrific and shocking murders.
The tragedy has led her Churchdown family to set up the Hollie Gazzard Trust, which will support hairdressers of the future to train, as well as educate teenagers about domestic violence.
It is the first time the Longsmith Street court has seen a murder sentence in more than 40 years.
Acting District Crown Prosecutor Allie Longhorn said: “Asher Maslin made a cold and calculated decision to kill Hollie Gazzard, a young woman who only weeks previously he had been in a relationship with. The Crown Prosecution Service worked closely with the Police to build a strong prosecution case against Maslin. Ultimately, the strength of the evidence resulted in him pleading guilty to Hollie’s murder and this at least spared many witnesses from having to re-live the horrific events in court.
Domestic violence permeates all sections of our society and it is sad to see a young life ended in such a brutal way. Thousands of women and a considerable number of men in our country remain trapped in abusive relationships and this case tragically demonstrates just how dangerous such relationships can be. It takes incredible strength to come forward and speak out against someone you love, but victims can be assured that complaints will be taken seriously and they will be supported throughout the Prosecution process. The CPS will work closely with the police and, where there is sufficient evidence and it is in the public interest, will always prosecute.
"Nothing will compensate Hollie’s family and friends for the loss they have suffered at the hands of Asher Maslin but I hope the conclusion of this case and the custodial sentence passed will bring at least a degree of comfort.”
