Hollie Gazzard's legacy continues ten years on from her murder

Nick Gazzard tells us how he hopes his daughter's legacy lives on.

Author: Rachael WhitePublished 18th Feb 2024

Ten years ago today Hollie Gazzard was murdered outside her workplace in Gloucester by her ex-boyfriend.

Her death followed months of stalking, harassment and obsessive behaviour.

Just days before Hollie was killed she had ended her relationship with Asher Maslin.

Nick Gazzard, her father, said she was quite happy over the weekend before her death, breaking up with her partner had left like a weight off of her shoulders.

He said: "She went into work on the Tuesday and I telephoned her and she seemed really happy, she hadn't seen or heard from him. But in the evening we heard the news via the police that she had been murdered."

Nick explains the moment he heard the tragic news, he said: "You could of hit us with a sledgehammer, it does knock you back like a train has just hit you."

Following her death, Hollie's family founded their charity The Hollie Gazzard Trust. They hope it will prevent other tragedies happening.

Hollie's father Nick said it's helped him to grieve for his daughter.

He said: "I thought how can I prevent the Hollies of the future happening, how can I prevent parents going through what we went through.

"I thought if we can help combat this that would be a good legacy for Hollie. If we can save one person that would be great.

"We can't affect what's happened to Hollie but we can affect what happens to other people."

The Hollie Gazzard Trust now works with educational institutions to educate students on issues like knife crime, domestic abuse, stalking, and coercive control.

The Trust say their ultimate goal is to positively change the lives of young people.

Nick said: "If I had the knowledge then that I have now I could of saved her life.

"The Trust for me helps me grieve. I know what I do helps other people, it saves lives."

Hollie's story touched the hearts of many people and organisations across the community and has had a huge impact on the work of charities in the ten years since her death.

Claire Marshall from FearFree, a domestic abuse charity who work across Gloucestershire, said: "Her legacy is to be able to talk about these issues, to spot the signs and seek help."

The charity said in the last ten years conversations about domestic abuse have become more normalised and people are more aware of the signs.

Claire said: "There has been a difference made in how people talk about abuse, there has been a heightened awareness of some of the issues and the signs."

In 2014, Maslin pleaded guilty to Hollie's murder and is now serving a life sentence with a minimum of 24 years in prison.

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