The brutal murderer of a Salford mum-of-two has been jailed for life today after the court heard he had told his victim ‘I’m going to kill you, I’d gladly do time for you. I like it in prison.’
Michael Cope murdered 25-year-old Linzi Ashton at her Salford home in June before fleeing from police.
Cope was the subject of a month-long manhunt following the killing and was finally arrested in Wigan. He was jailed for life today and told that he will serve a minimum of 27 years.
Ms Ashton had previously accused Cope of severe sexual offences and prosecutor Kate Blackwell QC told the court she had informed police that she feared for her life before she was found dead with 108 injuries to her head and face.
A post mortem showed she had died from ‘pressure to the neck and multiple injuries’.
The court were told that Ms Ashton suffered ‘deliberate and sustained’ abuse from Cope and heard that in March she text him saying ‘you could actually have killed me…you strangled me until I passed out’.
They were also told that, on a separate occasion, Cope strangled Ms Ashton and said ‘I’m going to kill you, I’d gladly do time for you. I like it in prison.’
It was heard that Cope had previous convictions for violent offences including stabbing his cousin and stabbing a man in the street.
Upon arrest the court heard how Cope had said he was ‘glad it’s over’ and had admitted that he tried to hang himself but couldn’t do it.
Superintendent Wayne Miller of Greater Manchester Police said: “The family of Linzi Ashton remain heartbroken by what has happened. Michael Cope not only took away a life in its prime, he has deprived two young girls of their mother.
“He carried out a brutal murder and then left relatives to find her body. The level of violence was shocking, and nobody deserves such a fate. Our thoughts go out to all of Linzi’s family and friends.
“Linzi suffered a history of domestic abuse with Cope, who wanted to manipulate her and wanted to control her. He was already wanted by the police when he carried out this hideous act.”
The Independent Police Complaints Commission is investigating how police dealt with allegations made by Ashton against Cope months before she was killed.
Superintendent Miller added: “We continue to learn lessons to better protect victims of domestic abuse and give victim’s the confidence to report. We await the outcome of the IPCC investigation.”
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