Ewan Methven has been sentenced to life in prison for the murder of his girlfriend, Phoenix Spencer-Horn, at their home in South Lanarkshire. The 21-year-old victim was brutally attacked in November 2024, with Methven admitting to the violent crime. He will serve a minimum of 23 years behind bars after being sentenced at the High Court in Glasgow.

Judge Lord Matthews expressed the profound grief experienced by Spencer-Horn's family, stating he had rarely encountered such sorrow in victim impact statements. He condemned Methven's actions, saying, "You were a trusted member of her family and you betrayed that trust and robbed her of a life in the cruelest way."

The court heard that Methven choked Spencer-Horn before stabbing her 20 times with three different knives, resulting in a fatal wound to her chest. He attempted to cover up the murder by pretending she was still alive, even texting her family to reassure them. Methven's actions included driving her car and searching for pornography online while trying to buy cocaine.

Prosecutors revealed that Methven dialled 999 only two days after the murder, claiming he had experienced a psychotic episode due to drugs and alcohol. However, a delivery driver reported that he did not appear to be under the influence at the time of the incident.

When police arrived, they discovered Spencer-Horn's decapitated body in the hallway, alongside blood-stained knives. Methven was described as calm during his arrest and later admitted to attempting to dismember her body. In a letter to the judge, he expressed remorse, stating, "I cannot believe I have taken her from them."

The couple had been together for two years, having met at a family gathering. On the day of the murder, Spencer-Horn had been in good spirits, having communicated with her mother shortly before the attack.