Gosport pensioner Alan Wotton found guilty of murdering nephew Andrew Avery
The jury has returned its verdict on a Gosport pensioner accused of murdering his nephew.
A pensioner who admitted to stabbing his nephew multiple times has been found guilty of murder by a jury.
Alan Wotton, 83 of Exmouth Road, Gosport, had been accused of murdering his nephew, Andrew Avery, and was charged with one count of murder and an alternative count of manslaughter. He denied the charges, saying he acted in self-defence.
Mr Avery died after being seriously assaulted at his home in Exmouth Road on November 29, 2024. The house was also set on fire, with Wotton pleading guilty to one count of arson.
At roughly 11.25am today (Tuesday, August 1), the jury was retired to consider its verdict, following an emotional two-week trial where the court heard evidence from Mr Avery’s loved ones - including his widower, John Portlock, and his brother, Colin Avery.
At 1pm, the jury returned with a unanimous verdict, ruling that Wotton was guilty of murder.
Judge Michael Bowes KC said: “The sentence is fixed by law, which is life imprisonment, but I need to consider the minimum term. That won’t happen today.
“I will fix a sentence date, which you will be told about.
“Alan Wotton, you have been found guilty of murder, the sentence for which is fixed by law; you are remanded in custody.”
Wotton, who had been using a hearing loop to follow the trial, sat motionless in the dock as the verdict was given.
A Crown Prosecution Service spokesman said: “Andrew Avery had been helping Wotton move out of the property following its sale and had arranged alternative accommodation for him.
“On the day he was due to leave, Wotton attacked his nephew with a kitchen knife, inflicting 11 stab wounds. Mr Avery sadly died from those injuries.
“Wotton then deliberately started fires inside the property before leaving Mr Avery in the smoke-filled house. Fire investigators identified three separate seats of fire and concluded they had been started deliberately.”
The spokesman said that Wotton had claimed to have acted in self-defence but said the prosecution had proven that he was the aggressor following a “dispute over inheritance money and his impending move from the property”.
Simon Clark, senior crown prosecutor, added: “Alan Wotton carried out a ruthless attack on his nephew before setting fire to the property.
“The prosecution case drew together compelling witness accounts, forensic evidence and admissions made by Wotton himself in the immediate aftermath of the murder.
“Andrew Avery had been helping his uncle and arranging for his future. Instead, he lost his life in a horrific and wholly unnecessary act of violence.
“Our thoughts remain with Andrew’s family and loved ones and we hope today’s verdict provides them with some measure of justice.”
He will be sentenced on Thursday, October 22.