Ewan Methven admitted to the murder of Phoenix Spencer Horn, 21, at her home in East Kilbride in a sickening attack before embarking on a gruesome bid to hide her remains
A man has admitted brutally murdering his young girlfriend. Ewan Methven killed Phoenix Spencer-Horn, 21, at the home they shared in East Kilbride last November.
Methven appeared in the dock at the High Court in Glasgow today where prosecutors outlined his gruesome crimes which took place over a series of days. Prosecutors said the 27-year-old attacked Phoenix on November 16 last year after the couple ordered a takeaway to their flat in Glen Lee. The court heard how he killed her by repeatedly striking her on the head and body with a knife or knives. He also choked her before mutilating her remains in a bid to hide what he had done.
Earlier that day, Methven, who worked as a postman for Royal Mail, had complained to his girlfriend that her waitress shifts made him “lonely”, and she had exchanged messages with her mother, Alison Spencer, at around 9.37pm, saying they were eating dinner.
The court heard how around midnight on the Saturday, Methven attacked Phoenix with three knives, stabbing her 20 times, before mutilating her body and severing her head with three knives. The couple had been together for two years and met at a family party.
Methven embarked on a gruesome bid to cover up the killing over two days, Glasgow Live reports. He severed Phoenix’s head and also tried to remove her limbs.
Sick Methven then repeatedly sent texts to the young woman’s mother Alison pretending that her daughter was “alive and well”. The court was told this was all done to try avoid “arrest and prosecution” for the crime.
He spent the weekend driving Phoenix’s red Corsa, scrolling through her phone and searching for internet pornography, as well as making several attempts to buy cocaine, according to prosecutors.
Prosecutor Christopher McKenna said: “The accused murdered his girlfriend, Phoenix Spencer-Horn, in the top-floor flat they shared. Late on Saturday November 16, he strangled her and stabbed her. He dialled 999 but not until November 18. Her mutilated and decapitated body was discovered only on November 18.”
Phoenix had seen her mother the day before and had been in good spirits at work the day she was murdered, the court was told. “The police recovered texts between the accused and Phoenix, he complained of feeling lonely because of the hours she worked and he apologised,” Mr McKenna said.
The court heard that a food order was placed around 8pm and Methven “did not appear to be drunk or under the influence by the delivery driver”, however, in a 999 call, he claimed the murder happened when he had a psychotic episode induced by cocaine, alcohol and steroids.
Detective Chief Inspector Susie Cairns said: “My thoughts remain with Phoenix’s family and friends as they continue to try to come to terms with what happened. He will be sentenced on Monday, 14 July, 2025.
“Methven now faces the consequences of his actions. Violence such as this is never acceptable in our communities, and we will work tirelessly to ensure those responsible are brought to justice.”
Members of Phoenix’s grieving family were also present as Methven’s KC Tony Graham entered guilty pleas to charges of murder and attempting to defeat the ends of justice.