Memorial bench dedicated to murdered young woman has been unveiled in her hometown

Scottish Sun

2 days ago

Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window)
Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
A MEMORIAL bench dedicated to a young woman who was brutally murdered has been unveiled in her hometown.
Phoenix Spencer-Horn, 21, was attacked in a flat she shared with Ewan Methven in East Kilbride, Lanarkshire.
Sign up for Scottish Sun
newsletter
Sign up
3
The memorial bench dedicated to the life of Phoenix Spencer-Horn
3
Phoenix Spencer-Horn was murdered in East Kilbride
3
Ewan Methven was jailed for life
He admitted murder and attempting to defeat the ends of justice and was jailed for life with a minimum of 23 years at the High Court in Glasgow.
After her tragic death, local craftspeople in Strathaven created a lasting memorial to Phoenix.
The specially designed wooden bench has now been placed in the grounds of the Strathaven Hotel where she had been a much-loved colleague and friend.
An inscription along the bench reads: "Phe, the girl with the stunning smile. 21 'forever young'."
A side panel features the line 'thunder only happens when it's raining' in a nod to Dreams, her favourite song by Fleetwood Mac while the other side has her date of birth and the day she died.
The words 'love you, bye' are also carved on the bench inside the outline of a red love heart.
One local said: "It's such a lovely memorial to such a special person.
"What happened to Phoenix was absolutely horrific and left many people shocked but the bench commemorates her life which was so cruelly cut short.
"She loved working in the hotel and was very popular with the customers so it's appropriate the bench will be sitting in the gardens for many years to come.
"Phoenix will never be forgotten by the people of Strathaven."
Evil killer butchered girlfriend before severing head & trying to dismember her at Scots flat
We told how monster boyfriend Methven strangled and stabbed Phoenix then severed her head at their flat last November.
A group of her friends and colleagues are set to take part in the Kiltwalk to raise money for Glasgow Women's Aid in her memory.
The 20 mile challenge will take place in September and the group, dubbed Phe's Angel Fighters, have already raised more than £6,100.
Glasgow Women's Aid said: "We cannot express our gratitude enough for this.
"The money raised will help us to continue to help women and girls in abusive relationships and prevent the loss of other young women to male violence."
Methven, 27, choked Phoenix before severing her head and trying to remove her limbs and torso from her body in November last year.
He earlier complained her waitress shifts at the Strathaven Hotel made him 'lonely'.
Her devastated mum Alison Spencer said her family had been left 'shattered' and would remain 'broken forever' over their loss.