Linzi Ashton (30 December 1987 – 29 June 2013) was found murdered in her home on Westbourne Avenue, Winton, Greater Manchester on 29 June 2013.
A police manhunt took place for over one month for 28-year-old suspect Michael Cope, until he was finally arrested at an address in Leigh. A postmortem examination determined the mother of two died from multiple injuries including pressure to the neck.
Linzi had been in a brief and violent relationship with Michael for just over nine months and, Greater Manchester Police revealed, Miss Ashton had filed two reports against Michael Cope, one for rape in April 2012 and a second regarding an assault in May the same year, although both statements against Cope were retracted by Miss Ashton and the relationship continued.
Michael Cope was charged with the murder but maintained his innocence with a not guilty plea until the morning of his trial at Manchester Crown court when he changed his plea suddenly to guilty. He was sentenced to a minimum of 27 years in prison after it was revealed Linzi suffered 108 injuries during a prolonged and violent attack.