Exclusive:Jury retires in murder trial as Gosport pensioner Alan Wotton denies murdering nephew Andrew Avery

The jury in a murder trial has retired to consider its verdict.

Alan Wotton, 83 of Exmouth Road, Gosport, is accused of murdering his nephew, Andrew Avery, and has been charged with one count of murder and an 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 pleading guilty to one count of arson.

At Portsmouth Crown Court this morning (Tuesday, September 1), Judge Michael Bowes KC summarised the case, including the evidence the jury has heard in the two-week trial. This included the 999 calls made by residents who saw smoke rising from the house, the emergency responders who were first on the scene, Mr Avery’s loved ones, and psychiatrists who assessed Wotton while he was in custody.

Wotton himself refused to give evidence, but videos of his police interviews after being arrested were played in court.

According to the defendant, the pair were aguing about money and inheritance, with Wotton accusing Mr Avery of “nicking my money”. He alleged that his nephew came out of the kitchen with a kitchen knife, and described how he “turned it on him”.

Mr Avery suffered 11 stab wounds, the court heard. Following the incident, Wotton tried to set fire to the property, to which emergency services were summoned.

The psychiatrists who assessed Wotton in custody diagnosed him with a delusional disorder - which “distorts” his sense of reality, and makes him unwilling to change his mind about certain matters, even in the face of rational thought or evidence.

Dr Oliver White told the jury that his disorder centres around a belief that people think he is a paedophile, following a suggested incident while he was living in Hungary.

Wotton has never been arrested, charged or convicted of any sexual offences, and psychologists have suggested his beliefs are unfounded - including his idea that Mr Avery found out about these rumours, and told other people in both Gosport and HMP Lewes, where Wotton was kept in custody after being charged.

In light of this disorder, the defendant’s solicitors have invited the jury to consider diminished responsibility, suggesting that Wotton’s ability to make rational judgements were impaired due to his delusions. Should the jury agree with this, a conviction of murder would be reduced to manslaughter instead.

Retiring the jury, Judge Bowes said: “The only verdict I will accept on these counts is a unanimous one. If you have not done so already, please allocate one of your number to be a foreperson, to chair the discussions and, in due court, announce your verdicts.”

The jury has now left the courtroom to begin deliberating.

(Proceeding)