Man pleads guilty to manslaughter following death of man in Macclesfield

A man has pleaded guilty to manslaughter following the death of a 62-year-old man in Macclesfield. Joshua Houghton appeared at Chester Crown Court today, Friday 6 August, and pleaded guilty to manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility. The 25-year-old had been standing trial since Monday 2 August. He will now be remanded until he receives his sentence on 17 September. Houghton stabbed Paul Cooke around the head and threw hot liquid over him while inside the victim’s flat on Brocklehurst Mews, Brocklehurst Way, in Macclesfield. It took place shortly before 9pm on Friday 20 December 2019. Paul was found by neighbours with serious wounds to his head and was treated by paramedics at the scene. He was taken to Macclesfield District General Hospital and sadly died a short time later. Witnesses reported seeing Houghton flee the address at the time of the assault. An investigation into Paul’s death was commenced and attempts made to locate Houghton. He was arrested the following morning at a local address and detained under the Mental Health Act.