Prosecutors have laid a fresh charge against a man accused of murdering his father at Gateshead on the night of his 18th birthday.
Jacob James Callaghan, now 19, has offered to plead guilty to manslaughter over the death of his father, Matthew Callaghan, 37, Newcastle Local Court heard on Wednesday.
Matthew Callaghan was stabbed several times at a home in Mahogany Crescent at Gateshead late on January 9 last year - the night of his son's 18th birthday.
He was treated by paramedics, but died at the scene.
He was charged with murder and threatening multiple witnesses not to speak with police.
Jacob Callaghan has remained behind bars while his matter moved slowly through the local court.
But last month, lawyers for Jacob Callaghan made an offer to plead guilty to manslaughter, the court heard.
Following consultation with police and next-of-kin, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) made a direction on Tuesday to accept the offer and police later laid a charge of manslaughter.
Jacob Callaghan is expected to enter the plea and have the murder charge dropped when the matter returns to court next month.
Meanwhile, Callaghan's partner, Jinaya Taylor, 20, is expected to have a charge of accessory after the fact to murder replaced with a charge of accessory after the fact to manslaughter, the court heard.
Taylor's matter was mentioned on Wednesday and her lawyer said she intends to plead not guilty.
Her matter was adjourned until next week.
Taylor was arrested alongside Callaghan at Shortland on January 15 last year, two days after an autopsy report revealed Matthew Callaghan had sustained several stab wounds.
