Exclusive:Gosport pensioner's delusions 'do not support' diminished responsibility in murder trial, psychiatrist says

An independent psychiatrist has dismissed the idea that a pensioner accused of murder could be considered to have diminished responsibility.

Alan Wotton, 83, of Exmouth Road, Gosport, is accused of killing Andrew Avery, 65, charged with one count of murder and one alternative count of manslaughter. He denies the charges, saying he acted in self-defence.

Mr Avery died after being seriously assaulted at his home in Exmouth Road on November 29, 2024. The house was also set on fire, with Wotton already pleading guilty to one count of arson.

Earlier in the trial, the jury has been told of Wotton’s delusional disorder, diagnosed by two independent psychiatrists. This disorder “distorts” a person’s sense of reality, fixating their thoughts on ideas that are not true - regardless of evidence to the contrary.

Wotton’s solicitor has argued that if the jury does not agree that the defendant acted in self-defence, they should consider if diminished responsibility applies. If so, they could convict him of manslaughter instead of murder.

At Portsmouth Crown Court, Dr Oliver White gave his opinion on Wotton’s disorder, and whether it contributed to the incident between him and Mr Avery.

Dr White, a specialist in forensic psychiatry, assessed Wotton on two occasions, while he was in custody at a secure hospital facility.

He said: "Wotton described himself as a loner, and that he always has been. He said he's happy in his own company.

"He told me that 'got on well' with Mr Avery, but that 'he was very controlling' and called him a 'greedy b******'.

"Wotton said he stabbed him 'to shut him up'."

The court was told of how Wotton had been married twice, and lived in Greece for 12 years before moving to Hungary.

It was there that he noticed two women watching him as he stood on a balcony, and believed they thought him to be a paedophile. Wotton has never been arrested, charged, or convicted of any sexual offences.

Dr White explained that this stemmed from the defendant's delusional disorder, and that this unfounded rumour was the foundation of his condition.

But the dispute with Mr Avery centred around finances, rather than these rumours, in Wotton's account - and Dr White therefore says the idea of diminished responsibility does not apply.

He said: "He reiterated multiple times that it was an argument about inheritance. It's very clearly a financial dispute.

"His delusional disorder may have intensified Wotton's mistrust of Mr Avery, but the conflict centred on inheritance, rather than the core of his delusional beliefs.

"It does impact how he views Mr Avery, but that would have been the case for a significant portion of time. He had not acted on that, or even confronted Mr Avery about the rumours.

"The available evidence, therefore, does not support diminished responsibility. His delusional disorder was present, but did not substantially impact his capacities."

(Proceeding)