On December 9, 2020, a tragic incident occurred in Bournemouth that ended the life of Marta Elena Vento, a 27-year-old receptionist at the Travelodge on Christchurch Road.
The perpetrator, Stephen Cole, a 32-year-old man struggling with schizophrenia, brutally attacked Marta with hair clippers during a psychotic episode.
This event unfolded after a series of failures in the system that left Cole without the necessary medication to manage his mental health, resulting in this senseless and devastating loss.
A Mental Health Crisis Unchecked
Cole had recently been released from prison, where he had been serving time despite concerns raised by a prison psychiatrist about his condition.
Upon his release, Cole was given a four-week supply of antipsychotic medication, which was not enough to sustain him.
After his medication ran out, he struggled to get a prescription refill.
His mental state began to deteriorate, and although he was seen by healthcare professionals and police officers, no action was taken to ensure his medication was properly managed.
On December 4, 2020, Cole was arrested for attacking guests and security staff at his emergency accommodation but was bailed the next day.
Unfortunately, no further assessment was made regarding his mental state.
The following days saw him desperately trying to get more medication, but his efforts were in vain.
On December 7, he was moved to the Travelodge, where staff were not informed of his condition or past violent behavior.
A Chain of Failures
On the day of the attack, a police offender manager had visited Cole at the Travelodge.
Describing him as “completely disengaged” and “almost blank,” the officer failed to alert the hotel staff of the potential danger.
The next day, Cole’s father, deeply concerned about his son’s deteriorating mental state, called 999 and took him to see a GP. However, the doctor refused to renew his prescription without consulting a psychiatrist, unaware of Cole’s violent history.
Later that day, Cole attacked Marta Vento while she was working alone at the hotel.
The assault lasted 42 minutes, during which Cole inflicted 55 blunt force injuries on Marta.
Her body was discovered hours later by the hotel manager.
Despite the best efforts of the family and professionals involved, the system failed to intervene in time to prevent the tragedy.
Cole was later detained in a hospital under the Mental Health Act after pleading guilty to manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility.
The Coroner’s Verdict
In her ruling, Dorset coroner Rachael Griffin stated that Marta’s death was the result of “a systemic failure” by the healthcare provider, Practice Plus Group (PPG), which had not ensured a proper care plan for Cole after his release from prison.
She concluded that had Cole received the appropriate medication and care, he would not have relapsed into psychosis, and Marta’s death could have been prevented.
The coroner also highlighted that had PPG made the necessary referrals and coordinated with the NHS, the chain of events leading to Marta’s death would not have occurred.
Cole’s lack of medication, combined with the failure of the police and healthcare system to manage his risk, contributed to the tragic outcome.
A Family’s Heartbreak
Marta’s family, devastated by her untimely death, expressed their anguish over the lapses in the prison and policing systems that allowed someone like Cole, who was clearly unwell, to be released without adequate support.
They said, “Our daughter paid with her life for lapses in the English prison and policing systems.
The cost to our family can never be measured.
Without our Marta, our lives will never be the same.”
The family’s lawyer, Benjamin Burrows, emphasized that Marta’s death could have been avoided if the appropriate measures had been taken.
He stated that if Cole had received the continuity of care he needed after his release, he would not have relapsed into psychosis, and Marta’s tragic fate could have been averted.
The Long Road to Accountability
While the coroner’s inquest has provided answers, the pain and loss for Marta’s family remain immeasurable.
This case highlights the need for more effective management of individuals with severe mental health conditions, especially when they are transitioning out of prison.
Had proper care been provided, the outcome might have been very different.
The family’s fight for justice continues, as they seek to prevent other families from experiencing the same heartbreaking loss.