Jury finds Prestatyn woman guilty after Chester trial
A woman from Prestatyn has been found guilty of murder following a trial at Chester Crown Court.
Aurin Makepeace, 43, of Tan Y Don, was convicted today, Wednesday 25 March 2026 of killing 41-year-old Steven Rothwell at his flat on Cross Street, Macclesfield, in August 2025.
The court heard Makepeace fatally stabbed Mr Rothwell in the chest after an argument on the evening of 18 August. She remained at the property overnight before returning to North Wales the following day.
Makepeace and Mr Rothwell were former partners who had met in prison. Although their relationship ended around 2023, they remained in regular contact.
On 15 August 2025, Makepeace travelled from Prestatyn to stay at Mr Rothwell’s flat. Three days later, tensions escalated after Mr Rothwell argued with a former girlfriend in the street near his home.
During the incident, Makepeace slapped the woman and was verbally abusive. Police attended shortly afterwards and spoke to those involved, including Makepeace, who was described as distressed and angry.
Later that evening, after officers had left, Mr Rothwell was stabbed once in the chest. Medical evidence indicated he would have died within minutes of the injury.
Steven Rothwell
The following day, Makepeace contacted friends, telling them she had stabbed Mr Rothwell. In one voice message, she said, “I’ve murdered my boyfriend”.
At 10.19pm on 19 August, Makepeace called 999, giving the name “Katie”, and told the operator she had stabbed Mr Rothwell and that he was dead. She claimed to be at the flat, but enquiries showed she had already returned to rural North Wales.
Police attended the address later that night and found Mr Rothwell deceased, with a yellow blanket placed over his body.
An investigation initially focused on identifying the caller “Katie”, but CCTV and phone evidence later linked Makepeace to the scene and her movements after the incident.
During police interviews, Makepeace claimed the stabbing was accidental during a struggle as she tried to stop Mr Rothwell leaving with a knife. A forensic pathologist told the court this account was very unlikely.
Forensic evidence showed the knife had likely been washed and placed back in the kitchen. Mr Rothwell’s blood was found on the blade, and Makepeace’s DNA was identified on the handle.
Detective Inspector Simon Mills said: “Makepeace claimed that she had tried to prevent Steven leaving the address with the knife and while grappling with him the knife accidentally entered his chest. However Makepeace couldn’t then explain why she went back to North Wales on the train and waited some hours before calling police and lying about her identity.
“Through our extensive and methodical enquiries we were able to place Makepeace in Macclesfield in the preceding days of Steven’s murder. We then evidenced her movements before and after Steven’s death, and showed her leaving Macclesfield the next morning whilst stopping to buy sweets and Vodka for the journey back to North Wales. The evidence was overwhelming, but she still pleaded not guilty, putting Steven’s family through further distress and heartache.
“The jury did not believe Makepeace’s lies and she is now going to pay the price for her cruel violence and deception.”
In a statement, Mr Rothwell’s family said: “We’d like to thank the judge, jury and counsel for the verdict reached on Aurin Makepeace today, and a huge thank you to the team who have been working behind the scenes. The support and guidance we have received from Cheshire Police has been a huge comfort during this trying time.
“Ste was so resilient, mischievous and had the gentlest of hearts and we’re going to miss that strength he brought. He found a lot of comfort in literature and spent many moments behind a book, either sat in a coffee shop or at the library.
“He will be forever thought about and we’re going to miss his witty sense of humour.”
Makepeace is due to be sentenced at Chester Crown Court at a later date.
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