A man on trial for manslaughter allegedly told police he fell asleep on top of his Grindr date for half an hour after sex, a jury has heard. Josh Baxter, 28, is accused of killing Michael Barron, 38, after they met via the dating app in January last year.
Manchester's Minshull Street Crown Court heard that after swapping messages, the pair arranged a sexual encounter at Mr Baxter's flat in Blackley. Prosecutors claim Mr Baxter plied Mr Barron with alcohol until he passed out, then restrained him face down on the bed and lay on top of him. In a statement read to the jury, Mr Baxter said he tied Mr Barron's ankles and wrists with red rope, had sex, and then fell asleep while on top of him.
Mr Baxter said he woke 30 minutes later to find Mr Barron had stopped snoring. He dialled 999 after noticing a purplish hue to his face and was guided to perform CPR, but paramedics pronounced Mr Barron dead at the scene. A post-mortem revealed fractures to the hyoid bone and thyroid cartilage, consistent with strangulation, and a curved abrasion on the neck possibly caused by a fingernail.
Forensic pathologist Dr Jamie Robinson told the court that Mr Barron's blood alcohol level was 417mg per 100ml – over five times the legal driving limit. He said death was likely multifactorial, caused by a combination of alcohol toxicity, the prone restrained position, pressure on the torso from Mr Baxter, and compression to the neck. Mr Baxter denies manslaughter, intentional strangulation or suffocation, and unlawfully causing grievous bodily harm. The trial continues.
