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Ewan Methven, 27, murdered Phoenix Spencer-Horn, 21, in the home they shared :: Warning distressing content
A man brutally murdered his girlfriend and then deceitfully texted her mother, masquerading as the deceased. Ewan Methven took the life of Phoenix Spencer-Horn, 21, in their shared residence on November 16 last year.
The pair, who had been in a relationship for two years, had arranged for a takeaway to be delivered to their Glen Lee, East Kilbride flat on a Saturday evening. Earlier that same day, Methven, a 27 year old postman with Royal Mail, had expressed to Ms Spencer-Horn his feelings of loneliness due to her waitress job hours.
Ms Spencer-Horn exchanged messages with her mother, Alison Spencer, around 9.37pm, indicating they were having their meal. However, at midnight, Methven launched a savage attack on Ms Spencer-Horn using three knives, stabbing her 20 times, mutilating her body, and decapitating her, as revealed in the High Court in Glasgow.
Over the weekend, Methven was seen driving Ms Spencer-Horn’s red Corsa, browsing through her mobile phone, and searching for explicit content online. The prosecution also alleges he made multiple attempts to procure cocaine.
Prosecutor Christopher McKenna told the court: “The accused murdered his girlfriend, Phoenix Spencer-Horn, in the top-floor flat they shared. Late on Saturday November 16, he strangled her and stabbed her. He dialled 999, but not until November 18.”, reports the Liverpool Echo.
“Her mutilated and decapitated body was discovered only on November 18.” It was heard in court that Ms Spencer-Horn, who had initially met Methven at a family gathering, had visited her mother the previous day and appeared to be in high spirits while at work on the day she was killed.
Mr McKenna detailed to the court: “The police recovered texts between the accused and Phoenix, he complained of feeling lonely because of the hours she worked and he apologised.”
Evidence presented showed that a food delivery occurred at about 8pm and the driver noted Methven “did not appear to be drunk or under the influence by the delivery driver”, yet during a distress call to emergency services, Methven claimed the murder transpired amidst a psychotic break induced by his use of cocaine, alcohol, and steroids.
Today, Tuesday June 17, Methven pleaded guilty to murder and attempting to defeat the ends of justice at the High Court in Glasgow. Mr McKenna conveyed: “Around midnight, downstairs neighbours heard footsteps and increased activities. At around that time, or shortly after midnight, the accused attacked Phoenix, compressing her neck and repeated stabbing her.”
He told the court at around 2.40am, Methven messaged a drug dealer and would send similar messages the following day and in the early hours of November 18.
Conversations also were exchanged with Miss Spencer-Horn’s mother, as Methven fabricated a tale to her, stating they had been “drunk” and that her daughter was snoozing, according to the testimony heard in court. Methven tried to reassure in one message: “Hey, Phe isn’t up yet, I’ll get her to text you when she is x.”
Mr McKenna added a grim revelation: “In the early hours of that morning, between texting Alison, the accused sought out pornography on his phone. The accused, using Phoenix’s phone, pretended to be her in messages to Alison.” A deceiving text sent from the victim’s mobile said: “Hey, sorry just woke up xxx.”
On 18 November, Miss Spencer-Horn was notably absent from her workplace and remained unreachable. Methven placed a harrowing 999 call around noon, confessing to the operator: “I had a psychotic break and killed my wife. We were messing about, I take steroids and was taking cocaine and alcohol, I think there was something else in it… it was f****** horrible.”
Upon being put through to a high-ranking police official, Methven continued, divulging: “I just want to go to jail,” and further disclosed: “I’m not violent. I have been out my face, I can’t remember what happened. I have been driving about all weekend.”
Emergency services discovered Miss Spencer-Horn’s mutilated body hidden under a towel. Methven admitted attempting to remove the limbs and torso from her body with a knife or other instrument.
Court attendees heard that pathologists suspect Miss Spencer-Horn may have endured an assault in the bathroom prior to being hauled into the hallway, although a blood-stained knife located in the bedroom also became a focal point during the proceedings.
A post-mortem conducted on 19 November ascertained that she succumbed to a fatal stab wound to the chest.
Defence counsel Tony Graham KC elaborated on Methven’s desire to admit guilt as a means to facilitate closure.
Mr Graham remarked: “Those related to Phoenix, those who were her friends, and society at large, are likely to regard him as the personification of evil. He knows those who are related to Phoenix will never forgive him, as he will never forgive himself. He can’t provide an explanation.”
Judge Lord Matthews remarked: “You pleaded guilty to an appalling crime, the only punishment for which is life imprisonment.” The sentencing has been scheduled for July 14.
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