‘Evil monster’ who cut wife into 200 pieces jailed for life
A MAN who murdered his wife and chopped her into 200 pieces when she planned to end their marriage must serve at least 19 years behind bars, a judge said yesterday.
Serial domestic abuser Nicholas Metson, 28, stabbed Holly Bramley, 26, to death in a fit of rage, then stored her dismembered body parts in the kitchen larder for over a week.
He tried to mask the crime with bleach products before offering former school friend Joshua Hancock £50 to help dump Holly’s remains.
They were discovered in the River Witham in Bassingham, Lincs, by a man on March 25 last year – more than a week after Holly was last seen going into the couple’s flat.
Lincoln Crown Court was told he initially thought they belonged to animal until he saw a human hand floating in the water.
Some of Holly’s remains, including parts of her heart, have never been recovered, the court was told.
Holly’s family called Metson an “evil monster” in victim statements and urged other domestic abuse victims to seek help. The court heard police who went to the 14thfloor flat after Holly’s family reported her missing were told by Metson that she left with mental health crisis workers on March 19.
But officers noticed a strong smell of bleach and ammonia, a saw on a towel and bloodstains on sheets and the bedroom floor.
Metson’s phone revealed he had made searches including “how to get rid of a dead body?”, “what benefits can I get if my wife dies?” and “does God forgive murder?”.
He also used Holly’s Facebook account and messaged friends to try to fool them that she was still alive.
However, the court heard CCTV cameras caught Metson moving numerous bags from his flat to a lift and putting them into his car in the early hours of March 25.
Metson initially denied murder, but changed his plea to guilty before a trial was due to start last week.
Jailing him for life, Judge Simon Hirst said the case had been “deeply distressing” for police and relatives. Hancock, 28, of Waddington, Lincs, was jailed for three years. He admitan ted obstructing a coroner and unrelated charges including attempting sexual communication with a child.
Holly’s family said that Metson had subjected his wife of two years to a life of “coercive control and manipulation”.
Control
They said: “Meeting the man who cruelly took her life was just the beginning of a rocky road for Holly as she embarked on a life of domestic abuse. Despite our trying, as a family we never managed to save her from that.
“We are asking and encouraging anyone living with domestic abuse to seek support and tell someone.
“There are services out there who can help victims find the happiness and freedom they deserve.”