A MAN has been found guilty of the "vicious and wicked" murder of a 77-year-old Hampshire grandmother after standing trial for a second time accused of the brutal killing.

Jurors took three hours to convict Matthew Hamlen of bludgeoning Georgina Edmonds to death with a rolling pin eight years ago. He now faces life behind bars.

Georgina's son Harry, who discovered his mother's beaten body, revealed the heartache of the eight-year case and told the Daily Echo that he wished Hamlen could be put to death.

It was the second time 37-year-old Hamlen had stood trial at Winchester Crown Court accused of the killing in January 2008.

He was acquitted unanimously by a jury on January 20, 2012 but sensational new DNA evidence led to him being rearrested in 2014.

In a rare move, he was tried again under double jeopardy rules following a change in the law which allows people to be tried more than once for murder if significant new evidence is found.

Daily Echo:

PICTURED: Georgina's children Harry (left) and Doddie outside Winchester Crown Court

Harry described his delight at the guilty verdict and he told how his mother’s murder contained “almost as many twists and turns as an Agatha Christie thriller” as he revealed how the investigation had been one of the most complex ever mounted in Hampshire.

Mr Edmonds said that “This investigation has lasted eight years and the story was not written to entertain people.

“The true story is of the wicked and vicious murder and torture of a frail and elderly lady in the sanctity of her home, and the dedicated men and women of Hampshire constabulary who pursued this devious and vicious murderer and who have finally brought him to justice.”

Mr Edmonds went on to say that he wished the death penalty was available.
He said: “I should remind you Matthew Hamlen stabbed my mother 37 times and then battered her to death with a marble rolling pin.

“The death penalty is no longer a sentencing option in the country, and in my view it is a matter of great regret that we no longer execute the loathsome individuals who commit crimes of this magnitude."

He also thanked all the police, prosecution service, witness service who helped bring Matthew Hamlen to justice.

It is the first case of its kind in Hampshire and now forms the seventh in the UK. All previous double jeopardy cases ended with guilty verdicts.

Hampshire police took the matter to the Court of Appeal in London after scientists discovered a DNA profile with a match probability of 26 million-to-one that it wasn't Hamlen's.

The evidence was found from a taping of Mrs Edmonds' blouse, in a small section that wasn't covered in blood.

Basic and then advanced DNA techniques were used to retrieve the sample which was strong enough to bring the case back to court and make Hamlen stand trial again.

A Hampshire Police spokeswoman said: "Throughout this entire investigation we have been absolutely determined to prove, beyond doubt, who committed this horrific crime.

"After the discovery of new evidence and presenting it to the Court of Appeal we were able to try Hamlen again for the murder of Georgina Edmonds.

"Today, the jury's verdict was that he was guilty of that brutal crime.

"The whole prosecution team were determined to find justice for Georgina and today that has been achieved.

"I would like to praise Georgina’s family who have trusted us to find her killer since those tragic events on January 11, 2008.

"Hamlen has never admitted his guilt, which has forced her son, Harry, her daughter, Doddie, and her wider family and friends to sit through two Crown Court trials and hear the traumatic details of that day, over and over again.

"They have all been incredibly strong.

"The entire team of police officers, police staff, prosecution barristers, forensic scientists, and colleagues from the Crown Prosecution Service have been absolutely dedicated to putting together the best possible case and presenting the facts to the jury.

"Every moment has been worth it to finally see Hamlen behind bars and justice served.”

For the past seven weeks the family of Georgina, who lived in Fig Tree Cottage, Brambridge, near Otterbourne, have relived the horrors of what happened to the much-loved pensioner in finite detail.

Both her son Harry and daughter Doddie, who was told the devastating news of her death while working as a nurse in Sudan, have given evidence in the prosecution case.

Jurors have also heard from a multitude of police officers, forensic experts, scientists and witnesses during the course of the trial in Court 3 at Winchester Crown Court.

Hamlen himself, who is a dad of one and stepdad, also took to the stand for a number of days to give evidence in his own defence.

The guilty verdict was returned before the court as the Edmonds family and relatives of Hamlen, including his wife Emma White and mother Linda Manning, sat in the public gallery.