IN 2014, 20-year-old Hollie Gazzard was murdered while working in a Gloucester hair salon.
The tragic story behind Hollie’s brutal killing has now been examined in the Channel 5 documentary Stalked: Murder at the Salon.
handoutHollie Gazzard was murdered while working in a hairdressing salon in Gloucester[/caption]
Who was Hollie Gazzard?
Hollie Gazzard, 20, was a hairdresser from Gloucester.
When speaking of his daughter, Hollie’s father Nick described her as ”enthusiastic and ”bright”.
According to the Hollie Gazzard Trust, which was set up after her death, Nick said that she was an avid Manchester United fan and visited Old Trafford to watch them play.
While fashion, style and beauty were of great interest, Hollie’s true passion was for hairdressing.
In 2012, she moved to London to study at the Steiner Training Academy.
She found a position at Fringe Benefits & Le Belle Hair and Beauty in 2013 and worked part-time at the King Teddy in Longlevens, Gloucester.
Hollie met her ex-boyfriend and killer Asher Maslin there.
What happened to Hollie Gazzard?
In 2014, Hollie Gazzard was brutally murdered while at work at the hands of her ex-boyfriend, Maslin.
Maslin stabbed 20-year-old Hollie 14 times as she was finishing off a haircut on her final client of the day.
The Gloucester hairdresser had ended her relationship with Maslin on Valentine’s Day 2014 – just four days before she was killed.
After being told it was over, he became angry, yelling that she had a “cold heart”.
He then followed her to her car before stealing her bank card and taking out £300.
Maslin wasn’t willing to accept that their relationship was over and began to bombard Hollie and her family with abusive and threatening texts.
One message read: “Give me a ring now or dis bat is gonna hit your dad’s head.”
“He was abusive to Hollie. He humiliated her in front of everyone else. He spoke to her like a piece of dirt.”
Nick Gazzard, Hollie’s father
Chilling CCTV footage, previously aired in the documentary Stalked: Murder In Slow Motion, shows broke Maslin, selling his DVD player to raise funds to buy the 12-inch kitchen knife used to attack Hollie.
Prior to her death, Hollie had reported Maslin to the police on February 16, however, authorities had been unable to locate him.
Her desperate plea to the police came after Maslin became possessive and abusive, leaving her parents increasingly worried for her welfare.
On one occasion, the young couple attended her mum Mandy’s birthday meal.
“He was demanding, he was clicking his fingers and saying things about her. The way he treated her was like a child. He had no respect.”
Nick Gazzard, Hollie’s father
It was there Maslin began to drink and show his true colours.
Hollie’s father, Nick, recalls: “He was abusive to Hollie. He humiliated her in front of everyone else. He spoke to her like a piece of dirt.
”He was demanding, he was clicking his fingers and saying things about her. The way he treated her was like a child. He had no respect.”
Two days after Hollie contacted the police, the partner of her sister Chloe received a harrowing text message, which read: “I warned you all.”
Minutes later on February 18, Maslin entered the salon where Hollie worked.
Salon boss Sian Pryszlak recalled the terrifying moment, she said: “I was doing a gentleman’s hair.
“I said hello and he said hello and I walked to the back of the salon and held my phone up to Hollie to show that I was going to phone the police and we both nodded to one another.
“I remember feeling quite nervous and anxious about it. I heard quite a lot of commotion and then there were people running towards me and one client said. ‘There’s a knife.’”
The frenzied attack took just two minutes.
Holly was pronounced dead on arrival at the hospital.
Who is Asher Maslin?
Asher Maslin is the man responsible for killing his ex-girlfriend, Hollie Gazzard.
Maslin met Hollie in 2013 at a bar where she was then working part-time.
PA:Press AssociationAsher Maslin carried out the frenzied attack that led to Hollie’s tragic death[/caption]
According to Hollie’s father, Nick, Maslin “latched on to her” straight away, pursuing her for a date until she finally agreed.
After Hollie’s death, it was discovered her killer had previous convictions for violence.
Her dad, Nick, explained: “He’d been arrested 23 times with increasing violence, with domestic abuse, GBH. He was a serial perpetrator.
“Hollie would not have wanted to be with someone who had done that to other people.”
In July 2014, Maslin was found guilty of murder and received a 24-year-life sentence.
During his trial at Gloucester Crown Court, Nick said: ”He didn’t show any remorse, he was disrespectful to the judge.
“It really made me angry. I was boiling inside.”
Following Hollie’s death, her family set up a trust in her memory.
The Hollie Gazzard Trust helps reduce domestic violence by creating and delivering programmes on domestic abuse and promoting healthy relationships in schools and colleges.
How to watch Stalked: Murder at the Salon
Hollie’s death is now the subject of the Channel 5 documentary Stalked: Murder at the Salon.
The documentary looks at Maslin’s history of violence, of which the victim’s family were unaware while the two were in a relationship
Hollie’s story was previously part of Netflix‘s true crime documentary My Lover My Killer.
Stalked: The Murder at the Salon airs on Channel 5 on Tuesday, May 7, at 10pm.
Where to get help if you’re being stalked
Contact the police if you’re being stalked – you have a right to feel safe in your home and workplace.
National Stalking Helpline
The National Stalking Helpline provides support for victims and works towards reducing the risk of harassment, stalking, aggression, and violence by empowering people to take steps to avoid, mitigate or manage risks across all aspects of their life.
Telephone number: 0808 802 0300
Paladin – National Stalking Advocacy Service
Paladin provides support to high risk victims of stalking. The provide and train ISACS (Independent Stalking Advocacy Caseworkers) across the country. Paladin also offers specialist support for 16-25 year olds.
Telephone number: 0203 866 4107
Email: info@paladinservice.co.uk
Action Against Stalking (Scotland)
Action Against Stalking offers support for stalking victims with Throughcare Support Practitioners providing confidential, specialised and free counselling.
Telephone number: 0800 820 2427