Hotel worker's family demand answers over killing

Relatives of a Travelodge receptionist who was killed by a hotel guest have questioned whether the "brutal" attack could have been prevented, as an inquest into her death opened.

Marta Elena Vento, 27, was punched, kicked and attacked with hair clippers for 42 minutes, while working alone in the lobby of the Travelodge in Christchurch Road, Bournemouth, on 9 December 2020.

Her killer, Stephen Cole, 32, was suffering from a psychotic episode and is now detained in hospital indefinitely.

The inquest heard Cole was discharged from prison with a supply of antipsychotic medication six weeks before the attack, but the pills ran out.

Ms Elena Vento was on her second shift at the hotel, which had just reopened following a Covid lockdown.

Shortly after 05:00 GMT, Cole came out of his room and launched a "sustained attack", the inquest was told.

The receptionist, from Valencia, Spain, suffered "very heavy blows to the face and head" and put up a "most spirited defence", it was heard.

She was found two hours later by her manager in the restaurant area and was subsequently identified by her fingerprints, the coroner was told.

A panic button worn by Ms Elena Vento had not been activated.

Travelodge staff had observed Cole "acting strangely" and the hotel chain would not have accepted his booking if it had known about his background, the coroner previously heard.

He had a history of violence and was being investigated by police for assaults which occurred while inside HMP Winchester, a pre-inquest hearing was told.

Prison clinicians had wanted to refer him to a psychiatric intensive care unit, but no space was available.

Giving evidence to the inquest, forensic toxicologist Mark Tyler said the killer had "very low" levels of his prescribed olanzapine in his blood when he was arrested.

Dorset coroner Rachael Griffin said the supply of pills had been due to last until 23 November.

The day before the attack, Cole's family tried to get more medication from a GP, the coroner said.

However, the doctor did not issue a prescription because he felt it needed to be referred to an NHS community mental team, she added.

Mr Tyler said it was not clear whether any pills taken on 8 December would have had time to take effect before the attack the following day.

Before the hearing, Ms Elena Vento's parents said their "lives have been destroyed by the sudden, horrific death of our beautiful daughter".

In a statement given outside the court, they said: "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."

The inquest, which is being heard without a jury, is expected to last up to six weeks.

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