Death of dad who had 'fight' with his son was an accident, coroner rules

The death of a man who died following an altercation with his son - who was later aquitted of murdering him - was an accident, a coroner has ruled. Darren McGowan, 51, was taken to Stepping Hill Hospital following an incident at his home in Stockport last year.

His son Joseph McGowan, now 21 but then aged 19, rang 999 in the early hours of April 30, 2023 and told the operator that his dad ‘wasn’t breathing’, before later telling attending police officers: “Me and my dad were arguing and I don’t know what to do. We were fighting and I choked my dad out" Manchester Crown Court heard.

Darren McGowan suffered what was described in court as an "un-survivable brain injury" and was pronounced dead at Stepping Hill on May 3.

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His son Joseph McGowan was charged with his murder, and an alternative count of manslaughter. However he was acquitted of both charges following a week-long trial which concluded in December last year.

An inquest into Mr McGowan's death was held at South Manchester Coroner's Court in Stockport last week, where Senior Coroner Alison Mutch recorded a conclusion of accidental death.

In the Record of Inquest, completed following the hearing on Monday, November 11, Ms Mutch says: "On 3rd May 2023 Darren Peter McGowan died at Stepping Hill Hospital. A post mortem examination found that he had died of the complications of neck compression in the context of physical activity and cocaine abuse."

Darren McGowan was married to Angela McGowan, and they had two sons together, one of which was Joseph, jurors at the trial were told.

The marriage struggled, with the couple separating over short periods at a time. “Most of the time, it seems, he got on well