Transgender Woman Faces Life Sentence for Murder of Former Partner
A transgender woman has been convicted of murder and now confronts a potential life sentence after fatally stabbing her ex-partner, whom she originally encountered while both were inmates in a men's prison. Aurin Makepeace, aged 43, was found guilty by a unanimous jury verdict at Chester Crown Court today following a three-week trial.
Fatal Stabbing in Macclesfield Flat
The court heard that Makepeace stabbed Steven Rothwell, a 41-year-old convicted murderer, in his chest at his residence on Cross Street in Macclesfield, Cheshire. Rothwell's body was discovered in the bathroom of his home on August 19 of last year. Prosecutors detailed that the fatal incident occurred on the evening of August 18, after which Makepeace remained at the flat overnight before returning to her home in Prestatyn, north Wales, the following morning.
Makepeace showed no visible reaction as the jury delivered its guilty verdict after less than three hours of deliberation. She has been remanded in custody awaiting sentencing, where a life term is a distinct possibility given the severity of the crime.
Contested Account of the Incident
During the trial, Makepeace denied charges of both murder and manslaughter, instead claiming that Rothwell was "accidentally hurt" while they were "grappling" over a knife. She testified that the blade inadvertently penetrated his chest during this struggle. However, the prosecution, led by Richard Pratt KC, dismissed this account as an "implausible story" fabricated after "some thinking time."
Forensic evidence presented to the court included blood staining attributable to both individuals found in the bathroom, shower, and kitchen sinks of Rothwell's flat. A knife recovered from a utensil holder appeared to contain watered-down blood, and a blanket was discovered covering Rothwell's body, though Makepeace denied placing it there.
Background of a Prison Relationship
The jury learned that Makepeace and Rothwell first met in a men's prison during the early 2010s. At that time, Makepeace was serving a sentence for wounding, while Rothwell was incarcerated for murder. Makepeace has since transitioned. The relationship between the two individuals was described as tumultuous, with the court hearing that Rothwell had threatened to kill another man, Gary Kuruc, on the day of the stabbing after learning Kuruc had slept with his sometime girlfriend, Katie Taylor.
Makepeace stated she attempted to prevent Rothwell from acting on this threat, which allegedly led to the fatal altercation. Earlier on August 18, police had been called to a Macclesfield street after a passer-by reported Rothwell shouting at Taylor, though both parties later blocked each other's phone numbers at an officer's request.
Aftermath and Arrest
Rothwell was not found by authorities until 10:43 PM on August 19, after Makepeace, by then back in Prestatyn, made a 999 call to report his death. Prior to this call, she had already informed one person that she "killed Steven" and told another: "I've murdered my boyfriend." In the emergency call, she similarly stated she had "killed my boyfriend."
Makepeace was arrested in Prestatyn during the afternoon of August 20. In the intervening period, she admitted to drinking vodka under a bush. Police noted that Rothwell was wearing only blue Nike shorts when discovered, which prosecutors argued indicated he was not preparing to leave his flat when fatally injured.
History of Violent Offences
The court was informed of Makepeace's extensive criminal history, which includes an indeterminate sentence imposed in 2007 for stabbing a stranger in the jaw and neck, causing life-threatening injuries. She was released from prison in 2021, and her post-release licence was terminated in 2025 following a period of good behaviour.
Her previous convictions encompass actual bodily harm, grievous bodily harm, battery, affray, and assaulting a police officer, with some offences committed against former partners. Following her release, Makepeace moved to Rhyl and later to a static home in Prestatyn, working at the Lyons Robin Hood holiday park and as a store manager at a Greggs outlet in Prestatyn's Parc Prestatyn Shopping Park.
During the trial, Makepeace repeatedly broke down while giving evidence and ultimately refused to return to the witness box before her barrister, Andrew Thomas KC, had completed his questioning. The case highlights a tragic narrative of violence stemming from a relationship forged behind bars, culminating in a fatal confrontation that has now resulted in a murder conviction.
