Warrington teenager pleads guilty to manslaughter

An 18-year-old has pleaded guilty to manslaughter after he admitted causing the death of his mother in Warrington.

Frederico Canuzo, from Warrington, appeared at Liverpool Crown Court on Monday 27 January.  

He entered a guilty plea to the manslaughter of his mother, 48-year-old Chintzia McIntyre, on the grounds of diminished responsibility. 

At around 9.40am on Tuesday 29 August 2023, Cheshire Police received reports of a woman being attacked outside her home address in Phoenix Place, Great Sankey.

Police and ambulance teams were sent to the scene, but Chintzia was sadly pronounced dead. It was determined she had suffered at least 29 blows to the head with a claw hammer.

The report had been made to police by her husband, who became aware of the attack after he received a notification sent to his phone from his video doorbell while he was working away in a different area of the country.

The activations had shown Canuzo attacking Chintzia, before fleeing from the scene.

Officers subsequently discovered Canuzo had boarded a train heading to London Euston. British Transport Police and the Metropolitan Police were informed and arrested him as he arrived on the platform in London.

Canuzo was transported back to Cheshire and the following day, 30 August, he was charged with murder. He has now entered a guilty plea to manslaughter which has been accepted by the prosecution based on medical evidence.

Canuzo has been remanded in custody and is set to be sentenced at Liverpool Crown Court on Tuesday 18 March.

Detective Inspector Eli Atkinson, who led the investigation, said:

 “This was an exceptionally traumatic incident for all those involved, especially Chintzia's family and neighbours and emergency services who tried to help her.

“While nothing can ever be done to bring Chintzia back, I do hope that the conclusion of this case will bring her family some closure.

“Our thoughts remain with Chintzia’s friends and family at this time, and we would like to thank them for their assistance throughout our investigation.”