Coroner guidance on inquest into death of Marta Elena Vento, aged 27

Senior Coroner, Mrs Rachael Griffin deferred a decision on whether Article 2 was engaged for the inquest which is due to be held over six weeks, from 20 January 2025, with 14 interested persons taking part.  

However, Mrs Griffin confirmed that in any event the inquest will be an Article 2 compliant inquest, in terms of the scope of its investigations and evidence to be heard. If Mrs Griffin decides that Article 2 is engaged, it will mean that her findings can be more detailed and can use more critical language. 
 
Marta, a Spanish national, was killed by Stephen Cole, aged 32, on 9 December 2020, at the Travelodge in Christchurch Road, Bournemouth, where Marta worked as a receptionist. 
 
Cole had been released from prison in October 2020, and whilst in custody had presented with severe psychosis. On 4 December he was arrested for assault and held in custody overnight before he was released on bail. He was staying at the Christchurch Road Travelodge when he killed Marta in a brutal attack using a pair of clippers. 
 
Cole pleaded guilty to manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility and was sentenced at a Winchester Crown Court hearing on 1 June 2021 to be detained indefinitely in a secure hospital. 
 
At Friday’s PIR, Mrs Rachael Griffin, provisionally listed a number of witnesses to give evidence at the final hearing from a number of the people, agencies and companies that had contact with Cole whilst in prison, following his release, and up until Marta’s death, including those responsible for providing him with medical treatment and managing his offending behaviour.   Mrs Griffin determined that expert evidence from a consultant psychiatrist was not required. 
 
Marta’s father, Luis Elena Blas, is represented by Benjamin Burrows and Ellie Sutherland at Leigh Day.