An 83-year-old man has been found guilty of murdering his nephew whom he stabbed to death before setting fire to his own home following an argument over his inheritance.
Alan Wotton was convicted following a trial at Portsmouth Crown Court of killing 65-year-old Andrew Avery at the house in Exmouth Road, Gosport, Hampshire, on 29 November 2024.
He had previously pleaded guilty to arson being reckless as to whether life is endangered.
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, said: “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.”
Wotton will be sentenced on 22 October.
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