A man who murdered his 77-year-old grandmother-in-law has been jailed for life with a minimum term of 24 years.

Adam David Wright, 39, formerly of Grovers Field in Bishops Waltham, appeared at Portsmouth Crown Court today, 27 November, after previously pleading guilty to murder.

Police were called just before 8am on 23 December 2023, after June Henty was found at her home address in Wickham with over 100 lacerations to her face and body after Wright attacked her with  knife.

She suffered haemorrhages from major blood vessels in her head and neck, and a bleed to the brain. June spent six months in intensive care before dying from her injuries on 14 June 2024.

The post-mortem report, from Dr Basil Purdue, found that the cause of death was delayed effects from multiple sharp force injuries.

Adam Wright was arrested on the same day as the attack after Mrs Henty was able to tell officers who had attacked her. He was charged with attempted murder and has been in custody ever since.

Wright was initially charged with attempted murder. Following Mrs Henty’s death, authorisation was sought to change Wright’s charge to murder.

He was subsequently charged with murder on 6 January and later pleaded guilty at Portsmouth Crown Court on 27 February.

He appeared before Portsmouth Crown Court today, 27 November, where he was sentenced to life imprisonment. He will need to serve a minimum of 24 years before being eligible for parole. Having already been in custody for 2 years, the minimum term he will serve is 22 years.

Today, June’s family have also paid tribute to her. They said: “Our beautiful mum June was brutally taken away from us and as a family we are heartbroken. She was a kind and loving lady who always put her family first. She enjoyed life to the fullest and always loved being around her family and friends.

“Mum was a pillar of strength and always stood up for what she believed in, even through the toughest of times. Our lives will now never be the same without her. Even though there has been some justice today, it will never be enough.

“She was our world and we were hers. We have lost the heart of our family and we feel broken without her.”

DI Tim Judd, the Senior Investigating Officer, said: “This result comes from the tragic loss of June Henty. She had done nothing to deserve the abhorrent violence she endured that morning, and my thoughts remain with her family.

“June fought for six months, and thanks to her we were able to identify her attacker as Adam Wright.

“Although no sentence will ever return June to them, I hope knowing that the man responsible is behind bars will provide them some closure.”