"The court heard how both men were part of the BDSM community, with Barron having told Baxter he enjoyed "pain and torture" and liked being "tied, gagged, hooded, totally helpless". During their hook-up, Baxter had Barron consume large quantities of vodka which rendered him intoxicated, before choking him for a minimum of 30 minutes."
"The force of this activity was so strong it fractured bone and cartilage in the 38-year-old's neck and Barron died after going into cardiac arrest following a lack of oxygen to his brain. Baxter maintained the act of strangulation was consensual and the injury was inflicted accidentally."
"You decided to ignore those warnings and during your trial in evidence you told the jury you still did not consider choking to be dangerous. You encouraged Mr Barron to become extremely drunk."
Michael Barron, a 38-year-old actor from Hollyoaks and Emmerdale, died on January 26, 2025, after being strangled by Josh Baxter, 28, during a sexual encounter at Baxter's Manchester flat. The two men met on Grindr and had previously discussed their interest in rough sex and BDSM activities. Baxter gave Barron large quantities of vodka before choking him for at least 30 minutes, causing fractures to his neck and resulting in cardiac arrest from oxygen deprivation. Baxter claimed the strangulation was consensual and accidental, but the court found he had been warned about choking dangers and ignored those warnings. He was convicted of intentional strangulation and grievous bodily harm, receiving a four-year sentence.
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