£20,000 INHERITANCE ROW TURNS DE@DLY AS 83-YEAR-OLD MAN ACCUSED OF STABBING NEPHEW 11 TIMES

GOSPORT, HAMPSHIRE, ENGLAND — A bitter family dispute over a £20,000 inheritance allegedly ended in a brutal killing after an 83-year-old man was accused of stabbing his nephew 11 times and then setting fire to his late sister’s home.

Alan Wotton is on trial at Portsmouth Crown Court over the death of his 65-year-old nephew, Andrew Avery, who was killed on November 29, 2024.

Prosecutors say the violence erupted after Wotton became increasingly angry over money he believed his late sister had left to him.

A FAMILY DISPUTE OVER £20,000

Wotton had moved into his sister June’s home in Gosport after her death in 2023.

According to prosecutors, June’s will left Wotton approximately £20,000, but Andrew — who was involved in administering the estate — allegedly became the focus of Wotton’s suspicions.

Andrew and his husband had made arrangements for Wotton to move out of the property.

Rather than simply leaving his uncle without somewhere to go, prosecutors said Andrew helped arrange a new flat for him.

John Portlock, Andrew’s husband, reportedly lent £84,000 toward the purchase, while Andrew spent around £40,000 of his own money on the property.

But prosecutors allege Wotton remained angry about the inheritance and believed Andrew was withholding money that belonged to him.

THE DAY THE MOVE WAS SUPPOSED TO HAPPEN

On November 29, 2024, Andrew went to the Gosport property to help his uncle move into the new accommodation.

According to the prosecution, that was when the situation turned deadly.

Wotton allegedly attacked Andrew with a knife, inflicting 11 stab wounds — seven to his torso and four to his left leg.

Prosecutors told the jury there was no dispute that Wotton caused the wounds.

They also allege that Wotton subsequently set fire to the property.

WOTTON CLAIMS SELF-DEFENSE

The defense case is very different.

Wotton claims he acted in self-defense, alleging that Andrew had picked up a knife first.

He reportedly told police that he struck Andrew, took the knife from him and then attacked him.

When questioned about whether he intended to kill his nephew, Wotton reportedly responded, “Probably, yeah.”

The defense has also asked jurors to consider whether Wotton’s mental state should reduce his responsibility.

His lawyers have pointed to a diagnosis of delusional disorder and argued that diminished responsibility should be considered.

A TRAGIC END TO A FAMILY DISPUTE

The prosecution argues that Wotton was the aggressor and that his anger over his living arrangements and the disputed inheritance helped drive the attack.

But the jury must ultimately decide what happened inside that house — and whether Wotton’s account of self-defense can be accepted.

The case is still being heard, and Wotton denies murder.

What began as a dispute over where an elderly relative would live — and who was entitled to £20,000 from an inheritance — ended with a nephew dead, a family home burned and an 83-year-old man fighting for his freedom in court.

A few thousand pounds. A family inheritance. A move to a new home.

And a confrontation that prosecutors say ended in 11 stab wounds.

The trial continues.