Overview
- Cole, sentenced Tuesday at Stafford Crown Court, received life imprisonment with a minimum term of 24 years for murdering Lisa Holland.
- Jurors convicted him of murder and three counts of causing grievous bodily harm with intent after he had already admitted manslaughter, coercive control, and a further grievous bodily harm count.
- Medical experts found more than 40 broken ribs, at least 30 inflicted in the weeks and months before her death, plus grave chest and abdominal injuries incompatible with any fall.
- Prosecutors showed he filmed and photographed Holland at 4:49 p.m. as she lay unconscious, then waited about 90 minutes to call 999 and later claimed she had fallen down the stairs.
- Police said the case illustrates how coercive control can escalate to fatal violence, and they urged anyone facing physical, emotional, financial, or controlling abuse to seek help.