Gosport man, 81, stabbed nephew 11 times, murder trial told

Emergency services arrived at the blazing property on Exmouth Road shortly after 17:00 GMT on November 29, 2024, after a fire was reported inside. Firefighters discovered 65-year-old Andrew Avery lying in a smoke-filled house in Gosport, Hampshire. The victim suffered multiple stab wounds to his chest, abdomen, and leg. While the house fire was deliberately set, Wotton has already entered a guilty plea to one count of arson.

Exmouth Road Stabbing and the November 29 Fire Scene

The events leading up to the fatal confrontation unfolded as Avery arrived at the house to help his uncle relocate. Wotton had been living in the property for about a year following the death of his sister, June Avery. On the afternoon of the incident, family friend Martin Warman called at the address and noticed an immediate hostility. Warman told the jury that Wotton answered the door in a manner he described as shocking.

He opened the door suddenly…

Martin Warman, family friend, via BBC

Warman added that he sensed a heavy atmosphere, noting that things felt on edge and the two men were not speaking to each other. Text messages sent earlier that day by Avery indicated that his uncle was not in a hurry to budge and was dragging his heels.

Dispute Over the £20,000 Inheritance and Retirement Living

Behind the tension lay a mounting conflict over money and housing. Following the death of June Avery in 2023, Wotton had returned to the UK from Hungary and stayed at her home while her son, Andrew Avery, acted as the estate’s executor and managed the property’s sale. To secure Wotton’s permanent return, Andrew’s widower, John Portlock, lent money to help purchase a retirement flat on Stoke Road.

According to Portlock’s testimony at Portsmouth Crown Court, the total cost for the flat reached £84,000 after solicitor fees. Portlock contributed an initial £50,000, Andrew put in £40,000, and Andrew sought to charge no rent beyond a £300 monthly maintenance fee. Wotton was reportedly unenthusiastic about paying the fee. The friction intensified when Avery suggested placing Wotton’s remaining £20,000 inheritance into an investment fund. The plan was to use the generated interest to cover the monthly maintenance, leaving Wotton’s pension entirely free for his own use.

The victim’s brother, Colin Avery, told the jury that Wotton wasn’t happy with the idea. Weeks prior, Wotton had asked for another £1,000 advance, but Andrew refused because there wasn’t enough money left in the pot. Further disbursements had been intentionally delayed so Wotton could qualify for housing benefit. Out of the £20,000 total, Avery had previously distributed £1,000, leaving £19,000 left to pay.

Accusations of Theft and Police Statements at the Scene

Wotton grew deeply suspicious of these financial arrangements, convincing himself that his nephew intended to steal his inheritance. Portlock explained that Wotton viewed the investment proposal as a betrayal, even keeping a journal where he annotated Andrew’s name with an insulting slur. Defense counsel Sarah Jones noted during the proceedings that while £1,000 had gone to Wotton, he remained legally entitled to the full £20,000 specified in the will, while Andrew had received a separate £50,000 share.

In a statement read out in court, Holloway recounted the defendant’s immediate claims.

“He said his nephew was trying to steal his money… about £19,000.”

Amanda Holloway, fire officer, via Yahoo News

Wotton further maintained that Andrew had gone at me with a knife so I turned it on him. Portlock countered that Andrew was entirely motivated by a desire to help, noting that Andrew was murdered – that stopped everything in its tracks. The trial continues at Portsmouth Crown Court, where Wotton faces charges of murder and manslaughter.