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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
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| Linzi Ashton murder: Police told of sex assault in April | Linzi Ashton murder: Police told of sex assault in April |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| A mother-of-two who was found "brutally murdered" at her Salford home had reported a "serious sexual offence" by her former partner to police. | A mother-of-two who was found "brutally murdered" at her Salford home had reported a "serious sexual offence" by her former partner to police. |
| Linzi Ashton, 25, was found dead in Westbourne Road, Winton on Saturday. Tests showed she died of pressure to the neck and multiple injuries. | |
| Police said she reported Michael Cope, 28, attacked her in April. | |
| A spokesman said he was wanted over her death and police would prosecute anyone helping him evade arrest. | A spokesman said he was wanted over her death and police would prosecute anyone helping him evade arrest. |
| Ms Ashton, who had daughters aged seven and two, also made a separate allegation of assault against Mr Cope in May. | Ms Ashton, who had daughters aged seven and two, also made a separate allegation of assault against Mr Cope in May. |
| A police spokesman said it had been "established that Linzi and Michael were out together on Friday night and in the early hours of Saturday morning". | A police spokesman said it had been "established that Linzi and Michael were out together on Friday night and in the early hours of Saturday morning". |
| Det Ch Supt Darren Shenton said Ms Ashton had been "brutally murdered" and that she had visible injuries to her head and face. | Det Ch Supt Darren Shenton said Ms Ashton had been "brutally murdered" and that she had visible injuries to her head and face. |
| He said that he believed Mr Cope, who was described as "dangerous and unstable", was in Salford and police would take a "particularly dim view of anyone who provides assistance" to him. | |
| 'Enhanced scrutiny' | 'Enhanced scrutiny' |
| A tribute from Ms Ashton's family said: "She was the most beautiful, generous, caring person anyone could ever wish to meet. She would never harm anyone and was always there for her children and family. | |
| "When she walked into a room it would light up with her energy and love." | |
| The Greater Manchester force has referred the case to the Independent Police Complaints Commission because of the reports it received about the couple. | The Greater Manchester force has referred the case to the Independent Police Complaints Commission because of the reports it received about the couple. |
| Assistant Chief Constable Terry Sweeney said the force would "rightly come under enhanced scrutiny" because of the reports. | Assistant Chief Constable Terry Sweeney said the force would "rightly come under enhanced scrutiny" because of the reports. |
| The force has previously faced criticism for its failure to protect victims of domestic violence. | The force has previously faced criticism for its failure to protect victims of domestic violence. |
| In the case of Clare Wood, who made several complaints to police before she was strangled and burnt by a violent and obsessive ex-boyfriend in Salford in 2009, the IPCC concluded there had been "individual and systemic" failures by the force. | In the case of Clare Wood, who made several complaints to police before she was strangled and burnt by a violent and obsessive ex-boyfriend in Salford in 2009, the IPCC concluded there had been "individual and systemic" failures by the force. |
| Her death led to the inception of the Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme (DVDS), a scheme nicknamed Clare's Law after Ms Wood, which gives people the right to ask police if their partner has a history of domestic violence. | Her death led to the inception of the Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme (DVDS), a scheme nicknamed Clare's Law after Ms Wood, which gives people the right to ask police if their partner has a history of domestic violence. |
| The force is currently involved in a year-long trial of the scheme, which is due to conclude in September. | The force is currently involved in a year-long trial of the scheme, which is due to conclude in September. |
| GMP revealed last week that it had so far received 90 applications for information from people or agencies and it had made 53 disclosures. | GMP revealed last week that it had so far received 90 applications for information from people or agencies and it had made 53 disclosures. |