A Manchester man accused of killing a man he met on Grindr told police he fell asleep on top of his date after drinking and sex, a jury has heard.
The Fatal Night and Aftermath
Josh Baxter, 28, denies the manslaughter of 38-year-old Michael Barron following a meeting arranged on the dating app in January last year. Minshull Street Crown Court was told the pair met at Baxter's flat in Blackley after Mr Barron bought a 70cl bottle of vodka on the way.
Prosecutors allege Baxter encouraged Mr Barron to drink to the point of unconsciousness before restraining him face-down on a bed. They claim he then lay on top of his guest for a prolonged period, strangling him with such force it fractured a neck bone and cartilage.
Paramedics pronounced Mr Barron dead at the scene. The court heard that afterwards, Baxter ordered a takeaway via Deliveroo and messaged other men on Grindr. He later searched online: "If you accidentally kill someone by strangling them in sex do you go to prison?"
Defence Claims and Pathologist's Findings
In a police statement read to the jury, Baxter gave a different account. He said they both drank heavily—Mr Barron consuming nearly the full bottle of vodka—before having consensual sex where Mr Barron was tied with "red rope".
"He was lying face down, I realised he had fallen asleep as he was making snoring noises," his statement said. "I ended up falling asleep whilst I was on top of him, and I woke up 30 minutes later."
Upon waking and collecting his food, Baxter claimed he realised Mr Barron had stopped snoring, his face was purple, and he could not feel breath. He then called 999.
Forensic pathologist Dr Jamie Robinson told the court a post-mortem examination found a broken hyoid bone and thyroid cartilage. A toxicology report showed Mr Barron's blood alcohol level was 417mg per 100ml—over five times the legal driving limit and above the level typically considered fatal.
Dr Robinson said the cause of death was likely multifactorial, citing the extreme alcohol consumption, Mr Barron's prone and restrained position, pressure on his torso from Baxter's weight, and compression to the neck.
Trial Continues with Further Evidence
Neuropathologist Dr Daniel Du Plessis found damage to Mr Barron's brain consistent with oxygen deprivation. Paramedic Lindsey Joyce told jurors it was "quite clear, quite quickly, that he had died" upon their arrival.
Josh Baxter, of Lakeside Rise, Blackley, denies all charges, including manslaughter, intentional strangulation or suffocation, and unlawfully inflicting grievous bodily harm. His trial continued on Wednesday, January 7, 2026.
