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Michael Cope gets life sentence for murdering ex-girlfriend Linzi Ashton Michael Cope gets life sentence for murdering ex-girlfriend Linzi Ashton
(about 2 hours later)
A jealous boyfriend with a history of domestic violence and "a paranoid and controlling mind" has been sentenced to life in prison after murdering his girlfriend, weeks after she complained to police that she feared he would kill her.A jealous boyfriend with a history of domestic violence and "a paranoid and controlling mind" has been sentenced to life in prison after murdering his girlfriend, weeks after she complained to police that she feared he would kill her.
Michael Cope, 28, went on the run for four weeks last summer after killing his partner, Linzi Ashton, 25, and inflicting 108 injuries on her body, Manchester crown court heard.Michael Cope, 28, went on the run for four weeks last summer after killing his partner, Linzi Ashton, 25, and inflicting 108 injuries on her body, Manchester crown court heard.
Jailing him on Tuesday, the judge, Mr Justice Kenneth Parker, ordered him to serve a minimum of 27 years before he is eligible for parole.Jailing him on Tuesday, the judge, Mr Justice Kenneth Parker, ordered him to serve a minimum of 27 years before he is eligible for parole.
Afterwards, members of Ashton's family banged on the reinforced glass of the dock, calling him a "dirty fucking rat" and shouting: "You'll never see your kids again."Afterwards, members of Ashton's family banged on the reinforced glass of the dock, calling him a "dirty fucking rat" and shouting: "You'll never see your kids again."
Cope admitted murdering Ashton, a mother of two, just as his trial was due to start on Monday. Cope admitted murdering Ashton, a mother of two, just as his trial was due to start on Monday. He continues to deny a charge of raping Ashton, which the judge has ordered will lie on file.
He continues to deny a charge of raping Ashton, which the judge has ordered will lie on file.
Cope was violent towards Ashton throughout their short relationship, said Kate Blackwell, QC, prosecuting.Cope was violent towards Ashton throughout their short relationship, said Kate Blackwell, QC, prosecuting.
She said Cope had been violent to two previous girlfriends before getting together with Ashton in November 2012, and had been convicted of criminal damage after damaging property belonging to the family of an ex-partner.She said Cope had been violent to two previous girlfriends before getting together with Ashton in November 2012, and had been convicted of criminal damage after damaging property belonging to the family of an ex-partner.
The court heard Cope had a number of convictions for violent attacks. In June 2005, when he was 20, he was sentenced to 4.5 years in a young offenders' institution after attacking a stranger in the street and being found guilty of wounding with attempted grievous bodily harm.The court heard Cope had a number of convictions for violent attacks. In June 2005, when he was 20, he was sentenced to 4.5 years in a young offenders' institution after attacking a stranger in the street and being found guilty of wounding with attempted grievous bodily harm.
In August 2010 he was given a two-year sentence after stabbing his cousin in the leg with a kitchen knife and trying to force the cousin to jump off their balcony. In August 2010, he was given a two-year sentence after stabbing his cousin in the leg with a kitchen knife and trying to force the cousin to jump off their balcony.
On 19 May last year Ashton finally complained to police after Cope headbutted her in the street after a night out and threatened to kill her. She also accused him of raping her. On 19 May last year, Ashton finally complained to police after Cope headbutted her in the street after a night out and threatened to kill her. She also accused him of raping her.
"He was saying that he doesn't give a shit if he kills me, he has more than me," she told officers, according to Blackwell."He was saying that he doesn't give a shit if he kills me, he has more than me," she told officers, according to Blackwell.
She said she was terrified he would murder her, telling police: "Now that I have phoned the police I think that he will just be drinking and he will just think: 'Well, if I'm gonna get sent to prison I might has well actually do something to her.'  I'm scared of him coming to get me … until he goes to prison I'm not gonna be OK."She said she was terrified he would murder her, telling police: "Now that I have phoned the police I think that he will just be drinking and he will just think: 'Well, if I'm gonna get sent to prison I might has well actually do something to her.'  I'm scared of him coming to get me … until he goes to prison I'm not gonna be OK."
She also told them about an earlier incident, when he strangled her to the point that she passed out.She also told them about an earlier incident, when he strangled her to the point that she passed out.
"When she regained consciousness she found the defendant crying and sobbing to 'get up'. She then realised that she had wet herself and as she went into the bathroom to clean herself up she noticed that the defendant had tied her dressing down cord around the banister," said Blackwell. "When she regained consciousness she found the defendant crying and sobbing to 'get up'. She then realised that she had wet herself and as she went into the bathroom to clean herself up she noticed that the defendant had tied her dressing gown cord around the banister," said Blackwell.
"He refused to tell her the purpose of such an action or what his intention had been had she not woken up but he did tell Ms Ashton that his actions had scared him and that he would never do anything like that again.""He refused to tell her the purpose of such an action or what his intention had been had she not woken up but he did tell Ms Ashton that his actions had scared him and that he would never do anything like that again."
But he did not keep to his word, and within a matter of days strangled her again, after accusing her of flirting with customers at the Duke of York pub in Eccles, Salford, where she worked as a barmaid.But he did not keep to his word, and within a matter of days strangled her again, after accusing her of flirting with customers at the Duke of York pub in Eccles, Salford, where she worked as a barmaid.
He accused her of being a "whore" and of having sex with customers in the cellar of the pub, she later told police.He accused her of being a "whore" and of having sex with customers in the cellar of the pub, she later told police.
Members of Ashton's family feared the worst for her relationship. Her ex-partner Liam Grime, father of Ashton's youngest daughter, two-year-old Daisy, threatened to apply for a residence order so that Daisy could stay with him if she didn't end her relationship with Cope, Blackwell told the court.Members of Ashton's family feared the worst for her relationship. Her ex-partner Liam Grime, father of Ashton's youngest daughter, two-year-old Daisy, threatened to apply for a residence order so that Daisy could stay with him if she didn't end her relationship with Cope, Blackwell told the court.
In a text message to Ashton on 23 April last year Grime wrote: "You are scared of him Linzi. He is going to end up killing you. You are a great mum Linzi and the girls need you but you are going to be no good to them if your beautiful character and confidence is forever going to be knocked down." In a text message to Ashton on 23 April last year, Grime wrote: "You are scared of him Linzi. He is going to end up killing you. You are a great mum Linzi and the girls need you but you are going to be no good to them if your beautiful character and confidence is forever going to be knocked down."
When Ashton finally went to the police on 20 May last year, complaining about violent and sexual attacks, her daughters were briefly taken away from her by the authorities.When Ashton finally went to the police on 20 May last year, complaining about violent and sexual attacks, her daughters were briefly taken away from her by the authorities.
After hearing how devastated she was to lose the children, Cope pomised to "get on it now" and surrender himself. Meanwhile, extra locks were fitted to Ashton's house.After hearing how devastated she was to lose the children, Cope pomised to "get on it now" and surrender himself. Meanwhile, extra locks were fitted to Ashton's house.
But he didn't turn himself in, and instead starting sending threatening text messages with pictures of the outside of her house.But he didn't turn himself in, and instead starting sending threatening text messages with pictures of the outside of her house.
By June there been a "reconciliation", Blackwell told the court, explaining how Cope put pressure on her to withdraw the complaint against him. By June there had been a "reconciliation", Blackwell told the court, explaining how Cope put pressure on her to withdraw the complaint against him.
On 19 June she called police and made it clear she wanted to retract her complaint of rape. On 19 June, she called police and made it clear she wanted to retract her complaint of rape. Ten days later Grime found her dead when he called to check on her with their two-year-old daughter.
Ten days later Grime found her dead when he called to check on her with their two-year-old daughter.
A neighbour later told police they had heard a couple arguing in the early hours of 29 June. The woman's voice, said the neighbour, "was in bits and was breaking, as though she was being choked or strangled … the female was also slurring her words, due to being upset at the same time … terrified."A neighbour later told police they had heard a couple arguing in the early hours of 29 June. The woman's voice, said the neighbour, "was in bits and was breaking, as though she was being choked or strangled … the female was also slurring her words, due to being upset at the same time … terrified."
They then reported hearing a woman say: "Listen to me, we can sort this, Michael."They then reported hearing a woman say: "Listen to me, we can sort this, Michael."
"It's the prosecution's case that the neighbour heard Cope in the process of murdering Ashton," said Blackwell. "It was a prolonged, extremely violent and determined attack.""It's the prosecution's case that the neighbour heard Cope in the process of murdering Ashton," said Blackwell. "It was a prolonged, extremely violent and determined attack."
A pathologist discovered 108 injuries on Ashton's body, said Blackwell. There were fractures to her right forearm, left elbow, neck and a broken nose, as well as ligature marks to her throat, as well as a cut along her throat. Ashton had been punched, kicked, stamped on, cut with a blade, beaten with a metal pole and strangled with a cable tie.A pathologist discovered 108 injuries on Ashton's body, said Blackwell. There were fractures to her right forearm, left elbow, neck and a broken nose, as well as ligature marks to her throat, as well as a cut along her throat. Ashton had been punched, kicked, stamped on, cut with a blade, beaten with a metal pole and strangled with a cable tie.
After murdering Ashton, Cope went on the run, prompting a well publicised manhunt in and around Greater Manchester.After murdering Ashton, Cope went on the run, prompting a well publicised manhunt in and around Greater Manchester.
He eventually handed himself in on 27 July, at an address in Leigh, Lancashire. When arrested on suspicion of murder, he was asked if he understood and replied: "Yes, I'm glad it's over. I just wanted to give up. I tried to hang myself with a dog lead that I found but I couldn't do it so I've been sleeping out here for days."He eventually handed himself in on 27 July, at an address in Leigh, Lancashire. When arrested on suspicion of murder, he was asked if he understood and replied: "Yes, I'm glad it's over. I just wanted to give up. I tried to hang myself with a dog lead that I found but I couldn't do it so I've been sleeping out here for days."
A psychiatrist examined Cope after his arrest and reported that his physical and mental state were "unimpaired", said Blackwell, adding: "His mental state was stable with no evidence of psychosis, low mood or anxiety symptoms."A psychiatrist examined Cope after his arrest and reported that his physical and mental state were "unimpaired", said Blackwell, adding: "His mental state was stable with no evidence of psychosis, low mood or anxiety symptoms."
The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) has begun an investigation to look into the force's contact with the mother-of-two in the months leading up to her death. The Independent Police Complaints Commission has begun an investigation to look into the force's contact with the mother-of-two in the months leading up to her death.