Matthew Jonathan, 40, has been sentenced to 32 years in prison for the homophobic murder of Jamie Gawler, 54, after filming the prolonged assault on his victim and later laughing during police questioning. The sickening nature of the video evidence was so extreme that officers were compelled to stop viewing it.
Mr. Gawler was found dead in his Hereford home in January 2025, having suffered extensive injuries over a two-day period. Jonathan, whom Mr. Gawler had met a month prior, captured the assaults on his mobile phone. The victim's brother became aware of the situation when Mr. Gawler's phone was answered by a police officer after being found at Porth railway station in South Wales.
Upon entering Mr. Gawler's flat, the brother discovered bloodstains on the floor and walls before finding Mr. Gawler deceased in an armchair, his face covered by a towel. The victim had sustained significant injuries to his head, neck, and chest, including the fracturing of most of his ribs.
Investigators identified Jonathan through a fingerprint on a vodka bottle at the scene. He had fled Hereford but was traced to Wales via his financial transactions. Newly released footage from the BBC crime documentary "Murder 24/7" shows Jonathan's remorseless demeanor during an interview with West Mercia Police.
During the interview, when questioned about Mr. Gawler's phone, Jonathan initially responded with "no comment." When informed the phone had been recovered, he retorted, "So? What's it got to do with me?" As the detective pressed him to account for how Mr. Gawler's phone had been used to call Jonathan's brother, Jonathan began to laugh. When asked if he was alright, he stated, "Yeah, I'm fine thank you," before insisting, "all this is a joke." The detective described the situation as a "serious investigation," to which Jonathan replied, "It might be a serious investigation but it's nothing to do with me."
Jonathan, who had recently been released from prison, had been offered shelter by the "kind, funny and gentle" Mr. Gawler during the cold Christmas period. Mr. Gawler had met Jonathan at a local night shelter in December 2024. However, instead of receiving kindness, Mr. Gawler endured brutal attacks while Jonathan stole and used his mobile phone and bank cards for alcohol purchases.
Horrifying videos and photographs taken by Jonathan documented Mr. Gawler's severe injuries and Jonathan's homophobic abuse. After Mr. Gawler's death, Jonathan fled, traveling by train to Cardiff and then disembarking approximately 15 miles away in Porth. CCTV footage from Porth railway station showed Jonathan falling and becoming unconscious before assaulting a paramedic who came to his aid. He left both Mr. Gawler's and his own phones, along with the bank cards, on the platform, leading to their discovery by police.
Jonathan was arrested by South Wales Police and subsequently transferred to Hereford. During his booking, officers noted the tattoo "Natural Born Killer" across his back. Initially, he denied involvement, claiming he had left Mr. Gawler alive and was unaware of his death. However, he later admitted to murder in April 2025, and was sentenced in September. His prior convictions include strangulation and drug possession. Officers described the videos as the "worst I've ever seen in my 22-year career. Extreme sadistic violence."
Mr. Gawler's family described him as a "true gentleman and a very much-loved son, brother, uncle and friend," stating they were "devastated by his passing." He was also remembered as a quiet, generous man who attended church and Alcoholics Anonymous meetings.