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Man murdered over child sex slur Man murdered over child sex slur
(about 5 hours later)
A man who was wrongly accused of being a paedophile was stabbed to death in a brutal and prolonged attack, Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court has heard.A man who was wrongly accused of being a paedophile was stabbed to death in a brutal and prolonged attack, Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court has heard.
Paul Cooper, 42, of Walton Road in Heywood, Greater Manchester, was found at his flat on 18 March. Paul Cooper, 42, of Walton Road in Heywood, Greater Manchester, was found dead at his flat on 18 March.
Neil Read, 23, of Higher Lomax Lane in Heywood, was deemed unfit to plead earlier this week.Neil Read, 23, of Higher Lomax Lane in Heywood, was deemed unfit to plead earlier this week.
On Friday he was ordered to go to Ashworth high security hospital, where he will be held in a psychiatric unit.On Friday he was ordered to go to Ashworth high security hospital, where he will be held in a psychiatric unit.
He is to be held without limit of time.He is to be held without limit of time.
There is no evidence to suggest that Paul was ever involved in any sexual offence Det Ch Insp Jeff McMahonThere is no evidence to suggest that Paul was ever involved in any sexual offence Det Ch Insp Jeff McMahon
Read attacked and killed Mr Cooper after becoming fixated with the idea he had been indecently assaulted by him when he was a child.Read attacked and killed Mr Cooper after becoming fixated with the idea he had been indecently assaulted by him when he was a child.
Det Ch Insp Jeff McMahon said: "Paul and Read knew each other from years earlier.Det Ch Insp Jeff McMahon said: "Paul and Read knew each other from years earlier.
"We have never received any allegation that Paul indecently assaulted Read at any time."We have never received any allegation that Paul indecently assaulted Read at any time.
"There is no evidence to suggest that Paul was ever involved in any sexual offence."There is no evidence to suggest that Paul was ever involved in any sexual offence.
"He had never been arrested, questioned or convicted of any crime of a sexual nature."He had never been arrested, questioned or convicted of any crime of a sexual nature.
"Neil Read had, over a prolonged period of time, persuaded a number of people in the community that Paul Cooper, and others in the area, were sex offenders. "Many of those he spoke to believed him and this misinformation hampered our investigation in its early stages.""Neil Read had, over a prolonged period of time, persuaded a number of people in the community that Paul Cooper, and others in the area, were sex offenders. "Many of those he spoke to believed him and this misinformation hampered our investigation in its early stages."