A postman from East Kilbride has been sentenced to life imprisonment after admitting to the brutal murder and decapitation of his 21-year-old girlfriend in their shared home last November. Ewan Methven, 27, was handed a minimum 23-year sentence by Judge Lord Matthews at Glasgow High Court on July 14, 2025, following a harrowing case that shocked the local community and beyond.
The victim, Phoenix Spencer-Horn, was found dead in their Glen Lee flat in South Lanarkshire after Methven attacked her late on November 16, 2024. The court heard chilling details of the attack: Methven repeatedly stabbed Phoenix 20 times, including ten wounds to her face, strangled her, and then mutilated her body, severing her head and attempting to remove limbs and her torso in a gruesome effort to cover up the crime.
Earlier that day, Methven had sent a message to Phoenix expressing feelings of loneliness due to her waitress shifts, which she had apologized for in return. She was described by colleagues as being in good spirits at work, and had last communicated with her mother around 9:37 p.m., stating they were eating dinner. This was their final contact before the tragedy unfolded.
Neighbors reported hearing loud noises and hurried footsteps around midnight, coinciding with increased activity detected on Methven’s phone. Prosecutors revealed that Methven used three knives in the attack and later spent the weekend driving Phoenix’s red Vauxhall Corsa, scrolling through her phone, and accessing internet pornography an astonishing 170 times. He also made repeated attempts to purchase cocaine during this period.
In a disturbing attempt to mask the truth, Methven sent multiple texts to Phoenix’s mother, Alison Spencer, pretending to be her daughter. Messages such as “Hey sorry I’ve just woken up xxx” were sent while he was indulging in pornography and drug use, deepening the betrayal felt by the family.
On November 18, Methven called 999, confessing to having a psychotic break and stating, “I had a psychotic break and killed my wife [girlfriend].” He claimed the episode was induced by a combination of cocaine, alcohol, steroids, and potentially other substances, describing the experience as “f***ing horrible.” Methven told the call handler he had blacked out and could not remember the events, adding, “I just want to go to jail.”
Police found Phoenix’s mutilated body hidden under a towel with blood-stained knives nearby. Methven admitted to attempting to dismember her body to obstruct justice. The court heard that prior to the murder, Methven had no previous convictions but had been grappling with addiction issues involving steroids and cocaine.
Defending Methven, Tony Graham KC acknowledged his client’s addiction and emotional turmoil. He read from a letter Methven wrote in 2024, stating, “In relation to the harm that could cause, it could only be harm to himself.” Methven expressed remorse in the letter, saying, “I know how loved Phoenix was and how she made her family complete. I can’t believe I’ve taken her from them.” However, Graham conceded that Methven could offer no explanation for the murder beyond his drug use, describing the killing as a “betrayal.” Methven reportedly struggles to reconcile his actions and has flashbacks but little memory of how the events unfolded.
Judge Lord Matthews condemned Methven’s actions as a “truly dreadful crime” and emphasized the profound impact on Phoenix’s family. He said, “At 21 years old, she was standing at the threshold of what should have been a long and fulfilling life. You were a trusted member of her family but betrayed that trust.”
The judge highlighted the cruelty of the murder and the disrespect shown in death: “You robbed her of all dignity in death by decapitating her and trying to dismember her in an attempt to defeat the ends of justice.” He further condemned Methven’s conduct following the killing, noting that Methven indulged in drug abuse, pornography, and deceitful communications with Phoenix’s mother, which deprived the family of the comfort of saying goodbye.
Addressing Methven’s claim that substances caused his actions, Lord Matthews was unequivocal: “You blame substances, but that is no excuse.” He acknowledged that no punishment could fully atone for the crime but declared that the only sentence he could impose was life imprisonment.
The couple had met two years earlier at a family party and recently moved into their top-floor flat. Methven worked as a Royal Mail postman, while Phoenix held part-time jobs at the Strathaven Hotel and a local coffee shop. Their relationship, once close-knit enough for Methven to be considered part of Phoenix’s family, ended in tragedy that has left a lasting void.
This case has raised difficult questions about the devastating effects of substance abuse and the fragility of trust within intimate relationships. Methven’s actions not only ended a young life full of promise but also inflicted immense pain on those left behind.
As Methven begins his sentence, the community reflects on the senseless loss of Phoenix Spencer-Horn, a vibrant young woman whose life was stolen in the most horrific manner. Her family, robbed of the chance to say goodbye, continue to mourn a daughter, sister, niece, and friend taken far too soon.
