An 83-year-old man has been found guilty of the murder of his 65-year-old nephew in Gosport following a two-week trial.

At 5:20pm on Friday 29 November 2024, police were called by the fire service to a house on Exmouth Road where a fire had been deliberately started.

Andrew Avery was found in the lounge with multiple stab wounds to his body. He was carried out of the address, but despite the best efforts of emergency services, he was pronounced dead at the scene.

Alan Wotton was located in the garden where he told police and fire officers in attendance that were assisting him that he had stabbed his nephew Andrew and set fire to the house.

He was subsequently charged with murder and arson with intent to endanger life.

Following his trail at Portsmouth Crown Court, that began on Monday 17 August, Wotton was found guilty by a jury of murder today (Tuesday 1 September), having previously pled guilty to arson, being reckless as to whether life was endangered, on Monday 3 August 2026.

He has been remanded in custody to appear at the same court for sentencing on Thursday 22 October.