When Matthew Jonathan was arrested in connection with the death of Jamie Gawler, he bore disturbing facial injuries. His police mugshot reveals severely swollen eyes and a face marked by a series of bruises and healing wounds.
Jonathan was brought in for questioning after the body of 54-year-old Jamie Gawler was found in his flat in Hereford, part of the Midlands, in January 2025. The case was particularly harrowing due to the brutal nature of the attack and the complexity of the investigation.
The BBC has produced a two-part documentary, Murder 24/7, which delves into how West Mercia Police officers and detectives managed this challenging case. The first episode aired tonight, with the second scheduled for tomorrow, Wednesday, 5 August.
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Mr Gawler had suffered severe beating and torture, with his body left in an armchair at his home. With no witnesses to the crime, it was only discovered after Mr Gawler’s brother visited the flat. Attempts to reach Mr Gawler by phone led instead to a police officer answering, as the phone was located at a train station miles away in Wales.
Alongside the phone, investigators found bank cards belonging to both Mr Gawler and Matthew Jonathan, who was 39 at the time. While Jonathan initially denied involvement in the murder, videos found on his phone contradicted this, showing parts of the brutal attack. In the recordings, he even boasted about being prepared to serve a long prison sentence.
Further details revealed that Mr Gawler had invited Jonathan to stay at his flat, only for Jonathan to steal money from him to fund alcohol purchases while Mr Gawler lay dying.
Following his arrest, Jonathan appeared at Worcester Crown Court in April 2025, where he pleaded guilty to murder. On Friday, 12 September 2025, he was sentenced to life imprisonment, with a minimum term of 32 years. This means he will not be eligible for parole until 2057, at which time he will be approximately 71 years old.