A man facing trial for the alleged murder of his Grindr date has described the moment he witnessed his supposed victim’s face turning ‘purple’. Michael Barron, 38, had agreed to meet Josh Baxter for a sexual encounter after connecting on the dating app in January of the previous year. The tragic incident took place in Mr. Baxter’s flat in Blackley, northern Manchester.
Mr. Barron was found dead in the flat on 26 January, having suffered from cerebral hypoxia, a condition resulting from insufficient oxygen supply to the brain, leading to a cardiac arrest. Prosecutors argue that Mr. Baxter’s actions were driven by a ‘sexual motivation for high-risk sexual activity’, alleging that he strangled and choked Mr. Barron with such force that it caused a fractured bone and cartilage.
Currently, 28-year-old Mr. Baxter is denying the charge of manslaughter and is undergoing trial at Minshull Street Crown Court in Manchester. The jury was informed that the two individuals connected initially on Grindr before continuing their conversation on WhatsApp on the day of the incident.
During their chats, Mr. Baxter, who claimed to work at Wetherspoons, reportedly expressed a preference for ‘rough’ interactions to Mr. Barron. The court heard that Mr. Baxter had detailed scenarios involving ‘choking, tying up, pulling hair, spitting, name-calling, intoxication, and physical aggression.’ Furthermore, he inquired about engaging in ‘rape role play’, to which Mr. Barron shared his own desires for being ‘helpless’ and experiencing ‘pain and torture’.
Despite these exchanges, Mr. Baxter insisted that it was all part of ‘fantasy’ and ‘role play’ when questioned during the trial. He recounted that upon Mr. Barron’s arrival at his flat at 4.27 pm, they engaged in a conversation covering various topics, including their movie preferences, before transitioning to discussions about sex and boundaries.
Mr. Baxter narrated that they shared drinks and went to buy more alcohol from a nearby shop, returning to the flat and eventually moving to the bedroom after kissing. The defendant claimed that he engaged in consensual choking during their sexual encounter, with Mr. Barron showing no signs of discomfort.
The situation took a tragic turn when Mr. Baxter discovered Mr. Barron unresponsive and purple-faced while waiting for their food delivery. Despite his efforts to revive him and calling emergency services, Mr. Barron could not be saved. The trial continues with Mr. Baxter maintaining his plea of not guilty to the charge of manslaughter.