Postman decapitates girlfriend and blames spiked drugs
A Scottish postman has been described as 'the personification of evil' after admitting to cutting his girlfriend's head off in a barbaric murder that has shocked the small nation.
After stating his actions were part of a drug-induced psychotic episode, Ewan Methven murdered his partner Phoenix Spencer-Horn in the apartment the two shared in Lanarkshire, Scotland in 2024.
Mr Methven tried to convince investigators that he could not remember anything about the killing as he had been affected by drugs and blacked out while committing the gruesome acts.
The timeline presented to a court tells a very different story after prosecutors said Mr Methven, a 27-year-old postman, called the 999 distress number for emergency services to report the murder.
Authorities claimed that Mr Methven had mutilated Ms Spencer-Horn's body, possibly for days after she was dead, and even spoke to her mother, pretending she was still alive.
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The Daily Mail UK reported a hearing in the Glasgow High Court was convened this week to decide Mr Methven's fate, with family and friends of Ms Spencer-Horn on hand to listen to the harrowing details of her death.
Neighbours had told police they heard heard loud noises coming from the home at around midnight on the evening of the murder the court was told.
'At that time, around or shortly after midnight on November 16 through to November 17, 2024, Methven attacked Phoenix by compressing her neck and repeatedly stabbing her to the head and body,' Police Prosecutor Chris McKenna reportedly said.
'Phoenix's naked and mutilated body with her head decapitated was discovered by police covered up within the hall of their home.
'An attempt had also been made by him to sever her torso, right wrist and ankle from her body.
'There were two bloodstained knives lying next to the mutilated body. A further bloodstained knife was found discarded in the bedroom.'
Mr Methven has now admitted to committing the heinous offences against his partner and faces life in jail.
Circumstances leading up to the murder were described in court as normal, with the two both working on the Saturday in question and returning home to share a meal and 'chill' as Mr Methven described their plans to work colleague on the day.
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Evidence in court mentioned Ms Spencer-Horn spoke to her mother and reportedly told her she was staying at home for the evening.
After the murder, police alleged Mr Methven spent hours watching porn on the internet and organised drug purchases.
The following morning, Ms Spencer-Horn's mother, Alison Spencer, tried to contact her daughter via text to which Mr Methven replied: 'Hey sorry I've just woken up xxx', and that Ms Spencer-Horn was 'all good'.
Two days after the murder, Mr Methven reportedly called 999 and spoke to emergency operators, telling them he believed he had taken steroids and cocaine which may have been spiked and he thought he had killed his girlfriend.
When asked to descibe the scene on the call, Mr Methven replied: 'It was f..king horrible.'
'I know she is dead, mate - she is dead,' he added.
After police responded to the call, Mr Methven was taken into custody and the court heard he told the arresting officers' 'I could not stay here with her like that. I tried to dismember her. I moved her from the bath and put her there.'
An autopsy revealed Ms Spencer-Horn suffered 20 stab wounds including the fatal wound to the chest.
'Those related to Phoenix and those who are friends are likely to regard Ewan Methven as the personification of evil,' Mr Mehtven's lawyer Tony Graham reportedly told the court.
'While of little moment, he wishes to express publicly how truly sorry he is for the death.
'He recognises the relatives and friends will never be able to forgive him. He will not be able to forgive himself.
'He understands the bereaved will seek an explanation, but he cannot provide an explanation.'
Mr Methven is due to be sentenced on 14 July.
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7NEWS
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- 7NEWS
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The Advertiser
13-08-2025
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Former A-League player blames $16k fraud on late pay
Former A-League club Western United's "significant financial strain" led a player to commit betting fraud by recklessly tackling the opposition to receive yellow cards, his lawyer claims. Ex-midfielder Riku Danzaki pleaded guilty to seven charges at Melbourne Magistrates Court on Wednesday over a betting fraud he committed with a friend who played in an amateur soccer club. The fraud netted the 25-year-old about $16,000 across three games between April and May and his co-accused - Bayside Argonauts striker Yuta Hirayama - received about $5200. Danzaki admitted deliberately receiving yellow cards for reckless tackles on opposition players, including games against Sydney Football Club on April 27 and Adelaide United on May 9. 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Tabcorp rejected their bet because of concerns over a large stake on one player and reported suspicious wagering to police. Danzaki's lawyer Lewis Winter said his client was "profoundly ashamed", embarrassed and remorseful and accepted the offending was serious. "He accepts that he's undermined the integrity of the A-League profession and undermined the integrity of these betting markets," the defence lawyer told the court. Originally from Japan, Danzaki joined the A-League as a Brisbane Roar player in November 2020 before moving to the Scottish first division, Mr Winter said. But Danzaki wasn't getting game time in Scotland so he left to go to Western United in Melbourne. "He had to pay a $40,000 contract termination fee to the club in Scotland," Mr Winter said. "When Mr Danzaki arrived in Australia he's already under some financial stress." He said Western United were already under "significant financial strain" when Danzaki joined them, in mid-2023. "They were not paying their players on time and they were not paying their players any superannuation," Mr Winter said, adding that by November 2024 Danzaki also had a newborn baby to support. "It is in this context ... that Mr Danzaki makes a very foolish decision." Mr Winter pointed out that Western United had since gone into administration and their A-League licence was revoked over the weekend. He said the matter had drawn significant media attention, particularly in Japan, and Danzaki's mother had refused to speak to him since he was charged. "He accepts he has dishonoured himself and dishonoured his family," Mr Winter said. He asked for Danzaki to be given a "significant fine" for the offending. Magistrate Nick Goodenough confirmed he was not considering imprisoning the pair. Hirayama also pleaded guilty to seven betting corruption charges and his lawyer Molly Deighton said he recognised he made a "very poor decision" engaging in the conduct. Danzaki and Hirayama will be sentenced on August 22. Former A-League club Western United's "significant financial strain" led a player to commit betting fraud by recklessly tackling the opposition to receive yellow cards, his lawyer claims. Ex-midfielder Riku Danzaki pleaded guilty to seven charges at Melbourne Magistrates Court on Wednesday over a betting fraud he committed with a friend who played in an amateur soccer club. The fraud netted the 25-year-old about $16,000 across three games between April and May and his co-accused - Bayside Argonauts striker Yuta Hirayama - received about $5200. Danzaki admitted deliberately receiving yellow cards for reckless tackles on opposition players, including games against Sydney Football Club on April 27 and Adelaide United on May 9. 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He and Hirayama discussed placing bets on games both in person and on the LINE messaging app. Hirayama would place bets on Danzaki's individual performance, including that Danzaki would receive a yellow card, while knowing he would deliberately try and receive them. The pair agreed to split the winnings from their bets - 70 per cent for Danzaki and 30 per cent for Hirayama. In a match against Auckland, on May 3, Danzaki tried to get a yellow card twice, by kicking opponents in reckless tackles, but the referee did not give him one. He was then taken out of the match but his substituted player received a yellow card so Sportsbet paid out the bet. The pair netted about $10,000 from the match and went to the Melbourne CBD to "celebrate their betting success", prosecutor Alex Turner told the court. Their rort came undone after they tried to place a single fraudulent bet on a game between Western United and Melbourne City on May 22. Tabcorp rejected their bet because of concerns over a large stake on one player and reported suspicious wagering to police. Danzaki's lawyer Lewis Winter said his client was "profoundly ashamed", embarrassed and remorseful and accepted the offending was serious. "He accepts that he's undermined the integrity of the A-League profession and undermined the integrity of these betting markets," the defence lawyer told the court. Originally from Japan, Danzaki joined the A-League as a Brisbane Roar player in November 2020 before moving to the Scottish first division, Mr Winter said. But Danzaki wasn't getting game time in Scotland so he left to go to Western United in Melbourne. "He had to pay a $40,000 contract termination fee to the club in Scotland," Mr Winter said. "When Mr Danzaki arrived in Australia he's already under some financial stress." He said Western United were already under "significant financial strain" when Danzaki joined them, in mid-2023. "They were not paying their players on time and they were not paying their players any superannuation," Mr Winter said, adding that by November 2024 Danzaki also had a newborn baby to support. "It is in this context ... that Mr Danzaki makes a very foolish decision." Mr Winter pointed out that Western United had since gone into administration and their A-League licence was revoked over the weekend. He said the matter had drawn significant media attention, particularly in Japan, and Danzaki's mother had refused to speak to him since he was charged. "He accepts he has dishonoured himself and dishonoured his family," Mr Winter said. He asked for Danzaki to be given a "significant fine" for the offending. Magistrate Nick Goodenough confirmed he was not considering imprisoning the pair. Hirayama also pleaded guilty to seven betting corruption charges and his lawyer Molly Deighton said he recognised he made a "very poor decision" engaging in the conduct. Danzaki and Hirayama will be sentenced on August 22.
Perth Now
13-08-2025
- Perth Now
Former A-League player blames $16k fraud on late pay
Former A-League club Western United's "significant financial strain" led a player to commit betting fraud by recklessly tackling the opposition to receive yellow cards, his lawyer claims. Ex-midfielder Riku Danzaki pleaded guilty to seven charges at Melbourne Magistrates Court on Wednesday over a betting fraud he committed with a friend who played in an amateur soccer club. The fraud netted the 25-year-old about $16,000 across three games between April and May and his co-accused - Bayside Argonauts striker Yuta Hirayama - received about $5200. Danzaki admitted deliberately receiving yellow cards for reckless tackles on opposition players, including games against Sydney Football Club on April 27 and Adelaide United on May 9. He and Hirayama discussed placing bets on games both in person and on the LINE messaging app. Hirayama would place bets on Danzaki's individual performance, including that Danzaki would receive a yellow card, while knowing he would deliberately try and receive them. The pair agreed to split the winnings from their bets - 70 per cent for Danzaki and 30 per cent for Hirayama. In a match against Auckland, on May 3, Danzaki tried to get a yellow card twice, by kicking opponents in reckless tackles, but the referee did not give him one. He was then taken out of the match but his substituted player received a yellow card so Sportsbet paid out the bet. The pair netted about $10,000 from the match and went to the Melbourne CBD to "celebrate their betting success", prosecutor Alex Turner told the court. Their rort came undone after they tried to place a single fraudulent bet on a game between Western United and Melbourne City on May 22. Tabcorp rejected their bet because of concerns over a large stake on one player and reported suspicious wagering to police. Danzaki's lawyer Lewis Winter said his client was "profoundly ashamed", embarrassed and remorseful and accepted the offending was serious. "He accepts that he's undermined the integrity of the A-League profession and undermined the integrity of these betting markets," the defence lawyer told the court. Originally from Japan, Danzaki joined the A-League as a Brisbane Roar player in November 2020 before moving to the Scottish first division, Mr Winter said. But Danzaki wasn't getting game time in Scotland so he left to go to Western United in Melbourne. "He had to pay a $40,000 contract termination fee to the club in Scotland," Mr Winter said. "When Mr Danzaki arrived in Australia he's already under some financial stress." He said Western United were already under "significant financial strain" when Danzaki joined them, in mid-2023. "They were not paying their players on time and they were not paying their players any superannuation," Mr Winter said, adding that by November 2024 Danzaki also had a newborn baby to support. "It is in this context ... that Mr Danzaki makes a very foolish decision." Mr Winter pointed out that Western United had since gone into administration and their A-League licence was revoked over the weekend. He said the matter had drawn significant media attention, particularly in Japan, and Danzaki's mother had refused to speak to him since he was charged. "He accepts he has dishonoured himself and dishonoured his family," Mr Winter said. He asked for Danzaki to be given a "significant fine" for the offending. Magistrate Nick Goodenough confirmed he was not considering imprisoning the pair. Hirayama also pleaded guilty to seven betting corruption charges and his lawyer Molly Deighton said he recognised he made a "very poor decision" engaging in the conduct. Danzaki and Hirayama will be sentenced on August 22.
