01/07/2013

Murdered Mother 'Previously Reported Former Partner'

Greater Manchester Police has confirmed a mother-of-two found murdered at her home at the weekend, had previously reported her former partner.

Linzi Ashton, 25, is said to have previously reported 28-year-old Michael Cope for a "serious sexual offence", according to the BBC.

Ms Ashton's body was found at a house in Westbourne Road, Salford, on Saturday evening.

The police said Ashton, who has two daughters aged seven and two, had reported Mr Cope in April, and also made an allegation of assault against him a month later.

Mr Cope is wanted by police in connection with her death.

The case has been referred to the Independent Police Complaints Commission as a result of the reports it has received about the couple.

Ms Ashton's body was discovered by a relative at the weekend.

A post-mortem examination to establish the cause of death has yet to take place, but Detective Chief Superintendent Darren Shenton said the young mother had been "brutally murdered".

(JP/CD)

Related UK National News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

20 March 2015
Police Find Woman And Children In Refrigerated Lorry
Police in Bristol have discovered a woman and two children in the back of a refrigerated lorry. Avon and Somerset Police said the driver of the lorry reported hearing voices from inside the lorry. Police believe the woman and children were in the back of the lorry for two days before being discovered.
20 February 2013
Fish And Chips Fight Landlord Fined For Wasting Police Time
The pub landlord who alleged he fought off four attackers while keeping hold of his fish and chips, has withdrawn his statement and been fined for wasting police time. 37-year-old John Wood claims he was stabbed with a screwdriver near Frank's fish and chip shop in Wisbech, Cambridgeshire.
28 June 2007
Body find closes M1 near Luton
A stretch of the M1 in Bedfordshire has been closed off after a woman's body was found. Both south and northbound carriages of the motorway have been closed between junctions 10 and 11 near Luton as the scene is investigated. It is understood that a pedestrian may have been struck by traffic.
09 February 2005
Treasury email reveals ERM information to BBC
The BBC reported today that it has received documents relating to the 1992 Exchange Rate Mechanism debacle that resulted in a failed attempt by the then Prime Minister John Major and Chancellor of the Exchequer Norman Lamont to keep Britain within ERM limits.
18 January 2005
Tesco enjoy record Christmas sales
Leading UK supermarket chain, Tesco, have reported strong growth and record sales over the Christmas and New Year period. The retailer's Christmas and New Year trading statement revealed that group sales had increased by 13% in the seven weeks up to January 8. Like-for-like sales, excluding petrol, also increased by 7.