Julian Humphries, manager of Stephen Cole, saw him shortly before Cole murdered Marta Elena Vento in December 2020.
Mr. Humphries has now retired from his job. He started at Dorset Police in 2000. He was a neighborhood officer until 2017, working in community policing.
In 2017, Mr. Humphries moved to a new unit, MOSOVO. This unit manages sexual or violent offenders after their conviction.
Mr. Humphries said Covid affected MOSOVO’s work, putting a “severe strain” on them between October and December 2020.
Mr. Cole was released in late October. Mr. Humphries first met him on November 4, feeling he needed to see Mr. Cole quickly.
Mr. Humphries thought Mr. Cole was compliant at their first meeting that day. However, he felt the meeting was difficult, as Mr. Cole appeared quiet and withdrawn.
Mr. Humphries saw Mr. Cole lacked support and had no family contact. In the initial assessment, it was noted that Mr. Cole was lonely and had no friends.
MOSOVO needs detailed data for each offender. They must fill out specific information to check the offender’s risk in the community.
Mr. Humphries could not finish this task early because he lacked crucial information. It was not done until after Ms. Vento’s death.
Mr. Cole stayed at Russell Court Hotel, but was removed after a fight on December 4. He then moved to the Travelodge on December 5.
Mr. Humphries visited Mr. Cole at the Travelodge, where he had only one night left. Mr. Cole appeared to be “completely disengaged” and seemed “almost blank” then.
Mr. Cole thought people listened via fire alarms. He also thought people banged on the windows, even on the fourth floor.
Mr. Humphries called their exchange “cold” and “dispassionate”. He felt something was not right at the time.
He did not think Mr. Cole would become violent and could not foresee the events later. The inquest into this case is still ongoing now.