A woman who murdered her former partner at his home in Macclesfield has been jailed for life.

Aurin Makepeace, 43, from Prestatyn, was convicted of the murder of 41‑year‑old Steven Rothwell after a trial at Chester Crown Court. The court heard that Rothwell was found with a fatal stab wound to the chest at his flat on Becks Lane in August 2025.

On sentencing, the judge imposed a life sentence and ordered that Makepeace must serve a minimum of 27 years before she can be considered for release.

The relationship and background

The court was told that Makepeace and Rothwell had been in a relationship prior to the killing. Evidence heard during the trial set out how the pair had met and how their relationship later deteriorated. Jurors were shown messages and heard accounts that prosecutors said demonstrated growing tension and volatility between the two in the months leading up to Rothwell’s death.

Prosecutors described the relationship as troubled and said there had been arguments and incidents which formed part of the background to the fatal attack. The defence did not dispute that Makepeace had been present at the flat, but challenged the prosecution’s account of her intent and the circumstances surrounding the stabbing.

The night of the killing

Emergency services were called to Rothwell’s flat on Becks Lane, Macclesfield, on 19 August 2025. When officers and paramedics arrived, they found the 41‑year‑old with a single stab wound to his chest. Despite efforts to save him, he was pronounced dead at the scene.

During the trial, the jury heard how Makepeace had been at the address that day. The prosecution said she armed herself with a knife and delivered the fatal blow during a confrontation inside the flat. The court was told that there was no evidence of any third party being involved.

Forensic evidence, including blood staining and the recovery of a knife, was presented to the jury, alongside witness accounts and CCTV footage that helped piece together Makepeace’s movements before and after the incident.

Investigation and arrest

Following the discovery of Rothwell’s body, detectives from Cheshire Police launched a murder investigation. Officers carried out house‑to‑house enquiries, reviewed CCTV from the surrounding area and took statements from neighbours and associates of both Rothwell and Makepeace.

Makepeace was identified as a key suspect early in the investigation. She was arrested and later charged with murder. Throughout the investigation, officers worked with forensic specialists to build a timeline of events and to establish how the fatal injury had been inflicted.

The case was then passed to the Crown Prosecution Service, which authorised a charge of murder and prepared the case for trial.

The trial at Chester Crown Court

The trial took place at Chester Crown Court, where Makepeace denied murder. Over the course of the hearing, the jury heard evidence from police officers, forensic experts and witnesses who had seen or spoken to the pair in the days and hours before Rothwell’s death.

Prosecutors argued that Makepeace had deliberately stabbed Rothwell and that the injury was consistent with a forceful, targeted blow to the chest. They said there was no credible alternative explanation for how the fatal wound had been caused.

The defence invited the jury to consider Makepeace’s state of mind and the wider context of the relationship, but the jury ultimately rejected her account. After deliberation, they returned a verdict of guilty to murder.

Life sentence and judge’s remarks

Sentencing Makepeace to life imprisonment, the judge said the attack was a grave and irreversible act that had taken the life of a 41‑year‑old man in his own home. The court heard that the single stab wound to Rothwell’s chest was sufficient on its own to cause his death.

The judge set a minimum term of 27 years, meaning Makepeace will not be eligible to apply for parole until she has served at least that period in custody. Even then, release will only be considered if the Parole Board is satisfied that she no longer poses a risk to the public.

Reaction from investigators

Following the sentencing, detectives involved in the case welcomed the outcome. They said the investigation had been complex and emotionally challenging for those closest to Rothwell, who had to sit through the details of his final moments in court.

Officers paid tribute to Rothwell’s family for their dignity throughout the process and said they hoped the conclusion of the case would offer some measure of justice, even though it could not undo the harm caused.

The Crown Prosecution Service also highlighted the work of the investigation team and the evidence presented to the jury, saying the conviction underlined the consequences of using a knife in any confrontation.

Knife crime and community impact

The case has once again drawn attention to the impact of knife crime on families and communities. Rothwell’s death, in a residential flat in Macclesfield, is one of a series of incidents in recent years where a single stab wound has proved fatal.

Local leaders and campaigners have repeatedly warned about the risks of carrying or using knives, stressing that a split‑second decision can have lifelong consequences for everyone involved. Police forces across the region continue to run awareness campaigns and targeted operations aimed at reducing knife‑related violence.

For Rothwell’s family and friends, the focus now is on trying to rebuild their lives in the aftermath of his death, while Makepeace begins a lengthy prison sentence for his murder.