Update after son, 20, cleared of murdering dad at home

An inquest will take place into the death of a Stockport dad who collapsed following an alleged altercation with his son. Darren McGowan was taken to Stepping Hill Hospital following an incident at his home in Glebe Street, Offerton, on April 30, 2023.

Manchester Crown Court heard the 51-year-old had suffered an 'un-survivable brain injury' before he was pronounced dead at hospital on May 3, 2023. Joseph McGowan, Mr McGowan's 20-year-old son, was acquitted of both murder and manslaughter by jurors last December following a week-long trial.

A date for Mr McGowan's inquest has now been pencilled in by South Manchester Coroner's Court, in Stockport. Appearing before members of Mr McGowan's family at a pre-inquest review this morning (August 19), senior coroner Alison Mutch said: "I'm very sorry things have taken so long. It's very difficult, I absolutely understand."

READ MORE: Man, 22, arrested for murder after woman killed in horror triple stabbing

Ms Mutch confirmed that evidence heard during the crown court trial, alongside a Domestic Homicide Review (DHR) which will consider the circumstances of Mr McGowan's death, will form part of the evidence at inquest. The trial heard that Joseph McGowan had called 999 at 3.07am on April 30 last year and told the call handler that somebody had 'choked' his father 'out'.

Police found Mr McGowan with his top off and with numerous scratches over his back. A pathologist found Mr McGowan had bruising consistent with compression of the neck by headlock or chokehold - with his medical cause of death given as brain injury caused by cardiac arrest.

Giving evidence during the trial, Joseph McGowan said the pair had briefly fought upstairs at the family home, before he got into a row with