Matthew Jonathan, 40, laughed and repeatedly refused to cooperate while being interviewed by police about the homophobic murder of Jamie Gawler, 54, whom he had tortured for two days. The assaults, which took place in Mr. Gawler's Hereford home in January 2025, were filmed by Jonathan on his mobile phone.
Jonathan was later jailed for 32 years at Worcester Crown Court. Newly released footage from the BBC crime documentary "Murder 24/7" shows Jonathan's defiant and remorseless behavior during the interview with West Mercia Police. When asked about Mr. Gawler's phone, Jonathan responded with "No comment" and later stated, "I ain't accounting for s**t." His laughter during the questioning prompted a detective to ask if he was alright, to which he replied, "Yeah, I'm fine thank you." The detective pressed him, noting, "You're laughing. Why are you laughing? It's not a laughing matter." Jonathan insisted the investigation was "a joke" and not related to him.
Mr. Gawler's brother became aware of the situation when a police officer answered Mr. Gawler's phone after it was found at Porth railway station in South Wales. Upon visiting Mr. Gawler's flat, he discovered blood on the floors and walls and found Mr. Gawler dead in an armchair, his face covered by a towel. The victim had sustained severe injuries to his head, neck, and chest, including broken ribs.
Jonathan had met Mr. Gawler, described as a "true gentleman," at a night shelter in Hereford a month prior to the murder. Jonathan, who had recently been released from prison, was offered a place to stay by the victim during the Christmas period due to the cold weather. However, this led to a prolonged series of attacks by Jonathan, during which he stole and used Mr. Gawler's phone and bank cards to purchase alcohol.
Evidence from Jonathan's phone included videos of Mr. Gawler severely injured, with Jonathan directing homophobic abuse at him. In one recording, Jonathan stated he was willing to serve a lengthy prison sentence, saying, "I'll do 30 years for this, I don't care." In another, he callously responded to Mr. Gawler's pleas for his mother by saying, "Don't give me that broken face b******."
After Mr. Gawler's death, Jonathan fled Hereford, traveling by train to Wales with a friend. He disembarked near Porth, where CCTV footage showed him falling, hitting his head, and becoming unconscious. He then attacked a paramedic who responded to assist him. Mr. Gawler's phone and bank cards were found on the platform, leading police to connect them to Jonathan via his own phone, which was also discovered there.
Jonathan was arrested by South Wales Police and subsequently transferred to Hereford. During his police interview, he initially denied involvement, claiming he had left Mr. Gawler alive and was unaware of his death. He later admitted to the murder in April 2025. Custody photographs revealed a "Natural Born Killer" tattoo across his back.
Detective Chief Inspector Gareth Lougher described the found videos as the "worst" he had seen in his 22-year career, citing "extreme sadistic violence." He noted that some investigation team members had to be prevented from viewing the evidence due to its graphic nature. Jonathan had a history of 18 previous convictions for 33 offenses, including strangulation and assault.
Mr. Gawler's family remembered him as a "kind, funny and gentle man" and a "true gentleman," stating they were devastated by his loss. He was also described as a quiet, generous individual who attended church and Alcoholics Anonymous meetings.