
Inquest into the death of Marta Elena Vento, aged 27
The first day of the inquest into the death of Spanish national Marta Elena Vento was told that the 27-year-old hotel receptionist was killed in a brutal attack by Stephen Cole, a 32-year-old who had recently been released from prison.
Posted on 21 January 2025
The fatal assault happened on 9 December 2020 at the Travelodge in Christchurch Road, Bournemouth, where Marta worked as a receptionist.
Cole had been released from prison on 27 October 2020, approximately six weeks earlier.
While in custody he was prescribed Olanzapine, an anti-psychotic medication, commonly used to treat schizophrenia. When he was released into the community on 27 October 2020 he was given a 28-day supply of the medication.
The Court said that, prior to Marta’s death, attempts were made by Cole and his family to get a repeat prescription of his Olanzapine.
Cole attended an appointment with his GP on 8 December, and previous contact had been made with out-of-hours GPs and paramedics on 5 and 6 December. However, these attempts to get Cole’s medication were unsuccessful, and none was prescribed.
On 9 December Cole was staying at the Christchurch Road Travelodge when he killed Marta, who was working a nightshift on reception.
The Court heard that repeated kicks and blows were delivered by Cole and a pair of smashed hair clippers used in the assault were found at the scene.
CCTV footage from the Travelodge hotel showed Cole coming downstairs into the reception area where Marta was working alone at 5:12am. He immediately attacked Marta in a continued and sustained attack which lasted 42 minutes.
The evidence of pathologist Dr Basil Nigel Purdue was summarised confirming Marta’s cause of death was multiple blunt force head injuries. The appearances suggested she “put up a most spirited defence against her assailant”. The Coroner noted Dr Purdue’s report recorded a list of 55 external marks and injuries on Marta’s body alone, excluding the extensive internal injuries.
The Court heard that two reports prepared by forensic psychiatrists who assessed Cole after Marta’s death concluded that he was actively psychotic at the time of the killing.
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.
Extracts of the sentencing remarks of HHJ Angela Morris were read out in Court and stated that Marta was killed in “what can only be described as a brutal, sustained and horrific attack upon her circumstances where she was utterly defenceless during the 42 minutes it took for [Cole] to extinguish her life”.
The inquest is listed for six weeks from 20 January to 28 February 2025 and is taking place before HM Senior Coroner, Mrs Rachael Griffin, at Dorset Coroner’s Court in Bournemouth.
Interested persons to the inquest include: the Ministry of Justice; Practice Plus Group; the Chief Constable of Dorset Police, the Chief Constable of Hampshire Police; Dorset Healthcare University NHS Foundation Trust; University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust; South West Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust; Dorset Council; Orchid House Surgery and Travelodge.
At the start of the inquest a “pen portrait” of Marta, written by her father Luis Elena Blas on behalf of their family, was read out by the HM Senior Coroner.

He said Marta was a quiet sensitive girl who, “like a rosebud, gradually opened up to the world, to life, to show all the splendour of the bloom”.
Without her, Luis said the lives of Marta’s parents and brother were shadows of what they were, “condemned to wander this world with no happiness or hope”. Their only consolation was to “stay united” and “try to preserve the wreckage of what was once a happy family”.
Marta’s parents, Luis Elena Blas and Maria Rosario Vento Sancho, and her brother, Luis Elena Vento, are attending the inquest remotely from their home in Valencia, Spain.
The family are represented by Benjamin Burrows and Ellie Sutherland at law firm Leigh Day.
Benjamin Burrows attended the hearing at Dorset Coroner’s Court, at the Civic Centre, Bourne Avenue, Bournemouth. Before the hearing began, he read out a statement issued by Marta’s family.
“Our lives have been destroyed by the sudden horrific death of our beautiful daughter Marta.
“She was the source of joyfulness to our family. She was an inspiration, our pride and hope, a true friend who loved to share her life and her happiness. She was strong, tenacious, hard-working and active. Without her we are no longer the same people.
“Four years have passed since Marta was brutally taken from us. Now we desperately need answers about how such a brutal assault can have happened and whether it could have been prevented.
“We are trusting the British coronial system to carefully and fearlessly consider the roles, systems, and actions of the public bodies involved with Stephen Cole and give us the answers we seek.”
Leigh Day partner Benjamin Burrows said:
“Marta’s tragic death and the brutal circumstances in which it happened continues to have a devastating impact on her family.
“They hope the inquest can give them answers about how Marta came to her death.
“The main question they have is whether the UK agencies responsible for protecting the public could have done more and if Marta’s death could have been prevented.
“The family trust the Senior Coroner to conduct the inquest in a way that will provide them with the answers they desperately need and trust that any findings she makes will help protect the public so no other family has to suffer as they have.”