Police say sorry to parents as review rules Hollie murder ‘unavoidable’

Police have apologised to parents of a murdered hairdresser – despite a Home Office-backed report saying her death could not have been prevented.

Parents of 20-year-old Hollie Gazzard – stabbed 14 times in front of staff and clients at her salon in Gloucester in February 2014 – claim the brutal killing might have been avoided “because a catalogue of errors led to it”.

The independent Domestic Homicide Review revealed that killer Asher Malin, who is serving 24 years for Hollie’s murder, had been arrested 21 times for either assaulting, threatening or assaulting women – including his own mother.

Some victims refused to testify against Maslin, a review for Tewkesbury Borough Community Safety Partnership said.

But if all the evidence had been known to any one agency, such a serious attack by him would have been predictable, it added.

And her father, Nick Gazzard, claims there was clear evidence that Maslin had a history of violence, adding: “This individual went on to kill and, with all the evidence beforehand, Hollie`s death could have been prevented.

“Two previous partners were abused and Hollie was a third. Neither of them pursued prosecution against him and that is worrying.

“If you look at what is said from all agencies, from my perspective there is strong and clear evidence this individual was going to kill.”

He added: “There are so many agencies and work is needed to pull the communication together.”

On February 15, 2014 – days before her death – Hollie contacted the police after Maslin stole her bank card, raided her account of £300 and threatened to beat her and throw acid in her face if she tried to end their relationship. But they could not find him to arrest him.

Had Maslin been arrested for this incident, the report stated: “It would have been open to a custody officer to either bail or detain Maslin to await an appearance in court for these offences.

“Even if he had been kept in police custody to attend court, it was probable he would still have been given bail at court.

“The panel accepts that even if he had been remanded in custody, he may have still killed Hollie at a later date.

“The panel, therefore, concluded Hollie`s death could not, at the time, have been prevented.”

The review revealed:

In May, a report from the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC), said the force`s domestic abuse policies and training at the time “hindered a comprehensive response” to the theft of Hollie’s card and the threat incident.

The IPCC said that although the officers` actions were proportionate to the theft, they did not fully appreciate its potential importance when considered as one of a number of domestic incidents.

During the investigation, the call handler who took Hollie’s call and the two officers who responded were investigated for possible misconduct.

Although the investigation highlighted failings by the officers in their response it did not recommend they or the call handler face disciplinary action.

The report added the officers` response was “symptomatic of the force`s inadequate policies and guidelines”.

But, the IPCC said, following a re-inspection by HM Inspectorate of Constabulary it “commended” the force`s progres