A VILE thug filmed himself viciously beating his friend to death over a number of days in his victim’s own home.
Jamie Gawler, 54, was tragically found dead at his flat in Hereford by his own brother following the barbaric assaults earlier this year.
Matthew Jonathan, 39, filmed himself viciously beating a man to death over a number of days in his own homeWest Mercia Police
He also used Jamie’s bank cards to make purchases at local shopsWest Mercia Police
West Mercia PoliceJonathan was sentened to 32 years in prison on Friday[/caption]
Matthew Jonathan, 39, was jailed for 32 years at Worcester Crown Court on Friday – having earlier pleaded guilty to murder.
Jonathan had been released from prison in December 2024 and met Jamie shortly after at a night shelter in Hereford.
The pair had struck up a friendship which led to Jamie kindly offering Jonathan a place to stay knowing he had nowhere else to go.
A month later, Jamie’s brother found his dead body after he was viciously attacked for days.
West Mercia Police said that it quickly became apparent that Jamie had died after “a vicious and prolonged assault over a number of days at the hands of Jonathan”.
They recovered seven “extremely graphic and distressing” videos filmed on a mobile phone showing Jonathan savagely beating Jamie which ultimately led to his death.
Jonathan was arrested by South Wales Police on January 19, the day after Jamie’s body was discovered.
It was also found that Jonathan had used Jamie’s bank cards to make purchases in local shops both during and after the brutal attack.
Jonathan travelled to South Wales on January 17 where he had a medical episode on a train station platform.
Several items had fallen from his pocket including Jamie’s mobile phone, bank card and his car keys.
Jamie’s brother had tried calling him the next day as he hadn’t heard from him but a South Wales Police officer picked up the phone.
They told him they had discovered the phone earlier in the day at Porth railway station
Concerned for Jamie’s welfare, he decided to check on him at his home where he found his brother’s body.
Jonathan was arrested on January 19 by South Wales Police where he was then transferred to Hereford Police Station and quizzed by detectives.
Footage of the arrest shows Jonathan with injuries to his face where he’s heard slurring his words after apparently suffering another medical episode.
Jamie’s family released a heartbreaking statement on Friday following Jonathan’s jail sentence.
“We would like to thank the West Mercia Police and prosecution team for their dedication and support in bringing this case to its conclusion,” they said.
“The last eight months have been extremely traumatic for our family as we try, in our own way, to process the loss of Jamie, our son, brother, uncle and friend to many.
Our lives have been changed forever and today has been another difficult day having to revisit what happened, but we are glad that some justice has been achieved.
“Jamie will be forever in our hearts and remembered as the kind, funny and gentle man that he was.”
Detective Chief Inspector Gareth Lougher, of West Mercia Police’s Major Investigation Unit, said on Friday: “We really welcome todays sentencing of Mathew Jonathan.
“He will now serve a significant period of time in prison and whilst it will never bring Jamie back to his loved ones, hopefully it will bring some closure towards being an unimaginably difficult time for them.
“Thankfully, Jonathan pleaded guilty to the murder and that saved his family going through and reliving the ordeal that Jamie went through in the final days of his life.
“I would also like to thank my investigation team who worked tirelessly, through some extremely difficult circumstances, to bring about today’s sentencing.
“The investigation involved various teams from a number of forces who all worked together to bring Jonathan to justice”.
West Mercia PoliceJonathan then travelled to South Wales where he had a medical episode on a train platform[/caption]
West Mercia PoliceHe was later arrested by South Wales Police[/caption]
West Mercia PoliceHe murdered Jamie Gawler, 54, and filmed the attacks on his mobile phone[/caption] Published: [#item_custom_pubDate]
