A man has gone on trial accused of killing another during a high-risk sexual encounter arranged via the dating app Grindr, with prosecutors alleging he showed "indifference" to his victim's welfare.
The Fatal Encounter
Manchester Crown Court heard that Josh Baxter, 28, and Michael Barron, 38, connected on Grindr in January last year. After exchanging messages, they agreed to meet for sex at Baxter's flat.
Prosecutors told the jury that Baxter encouraged Barron to consume a significant quantity of alcohol, to the point where he lost consciousness. The court was told that Baxter then restrained Barron face-down on a bed.
It is alleged he lay on top of Barron for a "prolonged period" and strangled and choked him with such extreme force that it fractured bone and cartilage in his neck.
The Cause of Death and Aftermath
The violent act allegedly caused cerebral hypoxia – a critical lack of oxygen to the brain – which led to a cardiac arrest and Barron's death.
Following the incident, prosecutors state that Baxter conducted a series of revealing internet searches. These allegedly included: "If you accidentally kill someone by strangling them in sex do you go to prison", "purple face while sleeping", and "if someone died during kinky sex would you go to prison".
Prosecution's Case
The prosecution asserts that Baxter was "motivated by high-risk sexual activity" and displayed a callous disregard for Michael Barron's safety during the encounter at the centre of this manslaughter case.
The trial at Manchester Crown Court, formally known as Minshull Street Crown Court, continues.
