Man charged with murder of mother of four who died in hospital nine months after being found seriously injured in a front garden

A man has been charged with murder after a mother-of-four died in hospital nine months after being found seriously injured in a front garden.

Karen Youdell was left in a vegetative state after allegedly being attacked at a property in Newton Heath, north east of Manchester, on July 23, 2023.

The mother, 50, died on May 8 this year and has remained in hospital since the incident.

Dean Johnstone, of no fixed address, was previously charged with attempted murder and assault in connection with the incident.

In an updated statement today, Greater Manchester Police (GMP) confirmed that the 43-year-old alleged killer has now been charged with murder.

Johnstone is due to appear at Manchester Magistrates’ Court on January 22.

A GMP spokesperson said: ‘Dean Johnstone, of no fixed address, has had charges of attempted murder and assault amended to murder. He has been remanded in custody to appear at Manchester and Salford Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday 22 January (2025).

“This follows the death of Karen Youdell after reports of an attack on Rose Bank Road in north Manchester in July 2023. Sadly, she died from her injuries in May 2024.”

Karen Youdell (right), 50, from Newton Heath, north Manchester, who died on May 8, 2024, 10 months after she was found injured in a garden, pictured with her daughter Leanne.

A man has since been charged with Karen’s murder. Karen appears in the photo

Karen was left in a vegetative state after allegedly being attacked at a property in Newton Heath, Manchester, on July 23, 2023.

Karen’s daughter Leanne Youdell previously described her mother as “loving, vibrant and radiant”, who “loved and appreciated life”.

Her devastated family made the heartbreaking decision to turn off Ms Youdell’s life support machine earlier this year. She died on May 8 surrounded by friends and loved ones.

Heartbroken teaching assistant Leanne said she and her family had struggled to cope with the loss of Karen.

Talking to him Manchester Evening NewsLeanne said: ‘It’s been like hell for us. We have been going back and forth to the hospital for months seeing her in a vegetative state.

‘I have been raising my younger siblings and have two children of my own. My son told me: ‘But Nana wasn’t old.’

‘The last time he saw her, she was playing on the trampoline with him. All our lives have been taken from us. She has been suffering in the hospital and now we will have to suffer for the rest of our lives.

Paying tribute to Karen, Leanne added: “Honestly, she was very energetic and really bright.

‘She was so full of life. She talked to everyone. She was always a social person and loved being awake. She always left as early as she could.

Mother-of-four Karen (pictured) died in May this year, months after being found seriously injured in a front garden.

Karen’s daughter Leanna said her mother was “so full of life” and a “loving, vibrant, radiant” mother who “loved and appreciated life.”

Leanne said the “shock” of her mother’s death had left her traumatised.

‘It’s so surreal, even though it’s real and I saw her pass away. I’m still waiting for him to call me,’ he told the MEN.

‘It’s a shock; It happened in an instant – and how it happened. “I feel like my life will never be the same and people can’t relate.”

Lisa Johnstone, 44, Yvonne Johnstone, 45, and Glen Nelson, 40, all from Manchester, were previously charged with perverting the course of justice.