10 months ago
12
Police Scotland
Phoenix Spencer-Horn was found dead at her flat in East Kilbride
A man has admitted to the brutal murder of his partner and the attempted cover-up of her death at her home in South Lanarkshire.
The body of Phoenix Spencer-Horn, 21, was discovered at the property on Glen Lee in East Kilbride in November 2024.
Prosecutors said Ewan Methven, 27, attacked Ms Spencer-Horn by repeatedly striking her on the head and body with a knife or knives.
Methven's KC Tony Graham entered guilty pleas to charges of murder and attempting to defeat the ends of justice at the High Court in Glasgow.
WARNING: This article contains distressing details.
Prosecutors told the court Methven choked Ms Spencer-Horn, before severing her head and trying to remove her limbs and torso from her body.
Methven then tried to cover up the killing for two days. He repeatedly pretended in texts to his victim's mother, Alison Spencer, that her daughter was "alive and well".
This was all done to try avoid "arrest and prosecution" for the crime, the court heard.
Members of Ms Spencer-Horn's family were present to see Methven appear in the dock.
The hearing, before judge Lord Matthews, continues.
