I have read several reports summarising the information concerning cholesterol levels and the risk of heart attack and I now place myself alongside Uffe Ravnskov MD PhD.
His view is that there never has been a link between cholesterol levels and death by heart disease other than possibly with people having a genetic problem that causes their cholesterol to be VERY high.
In most cases the statistics have been manipulated to support the preconceived ideas of a self serving group of medical researchers, and subsequently the drug companies.
His Web Site is here.

http://www.ravnskov.nu/cholesterol.htm

I strongly recomment that you get his book on the subject since that goes into even greater depth, to quote Uffe Ravnsky "The idea that too much animal fat and a high cholesterol is dangerous to your heart and vessels is nothing but a myth"