Alan Wotton, an 83-year-old man, has been convicted of murdering his nephew, Andrew Avery, in Gosport, Hampshire. The attack, which involved stabbing and arson, stemmed from a dispute regarding a £20,000 inheritance.
The £20,000 inheritance that fueled a family tragedy
The violence was rooted in a long-standing conflict over the estate of June Avery, who passed away in 2023. According to the report, Alan Wotton believed that his nephew, Andrew Avery, had withheld a £20,000 inheritance that June Avery had intended for him. This financial friction began after Wotton traveled from Hungary, where he had lived for many years, to attend his sister's funeral.
The estate was managed by Andrew Avery and a grandson named James, who served as executors. While the family initially allowed Alan Wotton to stay in the deceased's home during the sale process, tensions peaked in November 2024. When the property was sold, Wotton was asked to vacate the premises and move into a new flat, a transition that preceded the fatal encounter.
Andrew Avery's £40,000 investment in his uncle's housing
The motive of financial deprivation is starkly contrasted by the generosity Andrew Avery showed his uncle. As the report details, Andrew Avery had personally spent approximately £40,000 of his own money to secure a flat for Alan Wotton. Furthermore, the victim had lent Wotton a significantly larger sum of money from the family's resources.
This dynamic reflects a heartbreaking pattern of familial betrayal where the provider becomes the target. John Portlock, who married Andrew Avery in August 2024, testified that his husband's desire to care for Wotton was driven by the wishes of his late mother. This level of support suggests that the perceived inheritance dispute was not a result of Andrew Avery's greed, but rather a delusion or a deep-seated resentment held by Wotton.
Eleven stab wounds and three points of arson
The attack occurred on November 29, 2024,when Andrew Avery arrived at the house to assist his uncle with his move. Prosecutor Jodie Mittell KC informed Portsmouth Crown Court that Alan Wotton stabbed his nehew eleven times—seven wounds to the torso and four to the left leg. Following the killing, Wotton dleiberately set fire to the property, with investigators ideentifying three separate points of origin for the blaze.
Despite the severity of the crime, Wotton initially attempted to deceive authorities . He claimed to police that he had acted in self-defense and alleged that Andrew Avery was the one wielding the knives. However, bodyworn camera footage captured Wotton, wearing an oxygen mask due to a heart condition, calmly describing the attack to officers.. He eventually admitted to the arson,though he continued to deny the murder charge until the jury's verdict.
The Portsmouth Crown Court verdict and the Hungary connection
A jury at Portsmouth Crown Court ultimately found Alan Wotton guilty of murder, rejecting his claims of self-defense. Simon Clark of the Crown Prosecution Service described the act as a "ruthless attack" on a man who was simply trying to help. Wotton, who also uses a hearing aid, is now awaiting sentencing, which is scheduled for October 22.
Several details remain unverified or absent from the court's public summary. It is unclear exactly how much the "much larger sum" lent to Wotton by the family amounted to, or if Wotton's heart condition played any role in the court's assessment of his mental state during the crime. Additionally, the report does not specify if any other family members, such as Andrew's brother Colin, provided testimony regarding the nature of the inheritance dispute.
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