01 November 2023 , 11:25
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A woman has admitted to stabbing her “funny and loving” boyfriend to death during a “domestic disturbance” earlier this year.
Rees Howarth, 28, was found in a critical condition after an incident in Hyde, Greater Manchester, on April 23 this year. Despite the best efforts of officers and medical professionals, he was pronounced dead at the scene. His partner, 28-year-old Katie Yeomans, initially pleaded not guilty to charges of murder and manslaughter.
But on the eve of the trial at Manchester Crown Court she changed her plea to and admitted manslaughter. Prosecutors said they accepted the plea and would not pursue a murder trial and Yeomans will be sentenced next week.
Manchester Evening News reported how during a short hearing this morning, prosecutor Alex Leach said the acceptance of the manslaughter plea came after ‘careful consideration’ of a number of factors including ‘the history of abuse to which the defendant has been subjected from a number of sources over time’. In a tribute Mr Howarth, his family described him as a 'funny and loving' person, who had a 'heart of gold' and was 'caring and kind hearted'. They added: "He was a larger than life character who will be sadly missed by all who loved him."
A Greater Manchester Police spokesman previously said: On Sunday 23 April 2023, at around 2:55pm officers were called to reports of a domestic disturbance at a property on Thorsby Avenue in . "Emergency services attended the scene, and a man was found in a critical condition. Despite the best efforts of officers and medical professionals, a man in his 20's was sadly pronounced dead."
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One neighbour said she was in the back garden when she heard police arrive on the street at about 3pm on April 23. She added: "The policeman jumped out of the car and shouted 'CPR' then ran into the house. Within two seconds there were more police and an ambulance here. The police were brilliant. They didn't know what they were running into, but they just ran straight in. I used to see him [the victim] every day walking an Alsatian puppy up and down the street. All those lives that have been ruined by this. It's so sad." Yeomans, of Thorsby Avenue, appeared in court by video link from prison and was remanded in custody to await sentencing.