In a case that has sent shockwaves through the West Midlands, a Birmingham husband's chilling emergency call has been revealed in court, where he calmly informed operators: "I think I've murdered my wife."
The harrowing recording captures the moment Anthony Cope admitted to stabbing his 56-year-old wife, Linda, multiple times in their Kings Norton home. The 999 call, played during his sentencing at Birmingham Crown Court, reveals the cold detachment with which he reported his horrific crime.
The Fateful Emergency Call
"I think I've murdered my wife," Cope states matter-of-factly to the emergency operator. When asked to clarify, he repeats: "I've murdered my wife." The operator's immediate response - "You've murdered your wife?" - is met with a simple confirmation: "Yes."
This exchange forms the centrepiece of a case that exposes the dark undercurrents of domestic violence. The court heard how Cope, now 68, attacked Linda in the home they shared, leaving her with catastrophic injuries from which she could not recover.
A Marriage in Crisis
Evidence presented to the court painted a picture of a marriage under severe strain. Cope had reportedly moved out of the family home months earlier, and the couple were living separately at the time of the fatal attack.
Neighbours described the Copes as having a "turbulent" relationship, with concerns raised about their domestic situation in the period leading up to the tragedy. The prosecution detailed how Cope returned to the property on the day of the murder, resulting in the violent confrontation that ended Linda's life.
Justice Served
Anthony Cope received a life sentence with a minimum term of 17 years for Linda's murder. The judge described the case as a "devastating example of domestic violence ending in tragedy."
Detective Inspector Adam Jobson of West Midlands Police commented after sentencing: "This was a brutal attack on a woman in her own home, the place where she should have felt safest. The 999 call makes for particularly disturbing listening, showing the cold reality of domestic homicide."
The case has prompted renewed calls for domestic violence awareness and support services across the West Midlands region.
