A former Malvern College hockey coach has been sentenced to life imprisonment for the brutal murder of his interior designer wife in their Chiswick home, in what the judge described as a "sustained and ferocious" attack.
The Fatal Night
Matthew Wotton, 36, callously beat his 32-year-old wife Rebecca to death in the bedroom of their west London property before embarking on an elaborate cover-up operation. The court heard how Wotton attempted to conceal his crime by hiding his blood-stained clothing in the loft space and washing forensic evidence from his body.
Deceptive 999 Call
In a calculated attempt to evade justice, Wotton placed a emergency call to police claiming his wife had been attacked by intruders. He told operators: "I think my wife's been attacked. There's blood everywhere." However, experienced detectives quickly identified inconsistencies in his fabricated burglary story.
Forensic Evidence Unravels Lies
Police forensic teams discovered the hidden blood-soaked garments in the loft, directly contradicting Wotton's account of events. The evidence painted a chilling picture of domestic violence escalating to murder, with prosecutors describing the attack as involving "significant force."
Sentencing and Impact
At the Old Bailey, Mr Justice Bryan sentenced Wotton to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 17 years. The judge noted the profound impact on Rebecca's family, who described her as "the most beautiful, caring person" whose life was tragically cut short by someone she trusted.
The case has highlighted the devastating consequences of domestic violence and the lengths some perpetrators will go to conceal their crimes from authorities.
