A man has been sentenced to life imprisonment for the brutal murder and dismemberment of his girlfriend, 21-year-old Phoenix Spencer-Horn, at their home in East Kilbride, South Lanarkshire.
Ewan Methven, 27, was ordered to serve a minimum of 23 years behind bars after admitting to murdering Phoenix in November 2024. The horrific crime took place at a flat on Glen Lee and has left the victim’s family devastated.
The High Court in Glasgow heard that Methven, a postman, choked and stabbed Phoenix 20 times before decapitating her and attempting to dismember her body. The fatal stab wound was to her chest, with others inflicted on her face and buttocks. He waited nearly two days before calling emergency services, during which time he pretended to Phoenix’s mother that her daughter was still alive.
Sentencing him, Judge Lord Matthews said Methven had “betrayed the trust” of Phoenix’s family and robbed them of the chance to say goodbye. “Not content with what you did to her, you robbed her of all dignity in death,” he said.
Methven attempted to excuse his actions by claiming he experienced a psychotic episode brought on by cocaine, alcohol, and steroids. However, the court was told he seemed calm and sober when seen by a delivery driver shortly before the murder.
In a chilling admission after his arrest, Methven told police: “I tried to dismember her. I moved her from the bath and put her there.”
Phoenix and Methven had been in a relationship for two years and met at a family party. Friends and family described Phoenix as vibrant and full of life. A fundraising campaign launched after her death raised thousands for funeral expenses, with much of the money later donated to Women’s Aid.
Glasgow Women’s Aid praised the family’s strength, stating: “Phoenix’s name now stands for more than loss. It stands for action, change, and protection.”
Phoenix’s legacy, though born from tragedy, is now helping to raise awareness and support for victims of domestic abuse.
