STEPHEN HOTSON FROM KEWSTOKE SENTENCED TO LIFE FOR BRUTAL MURDER IN NORTH SOMERSET

Stephen Hotson, a 45-year-old resident of Crookes Lane in the village of Kewstoke, has been handed a life sentence following his conviction for the murder of his wife, Julie Tottle. The tragic incident took place at their shared home in North Somerset during July 2011. The court proceedings revealed that Hotson was responsible for inflicting over 60 injuries upon Ms. Tottle, ultimately leading to her death in a violent and sustained attack.

Although Hotson admitted to manslaughter, he denied the charge of murder, asserting that he was suffering from an 'abnormality of mind' at the time of the killing. The court heard evidence indicating that Ms. Tottle, also known as Julie, had been visibly distressed prior to her death. She had confided in a friend about her husband's unpredictable 'black moods' and past episodes of violence.

According to the evidence presented during the trial, Hotson attacked his wife with a metal pipe from a vacuum cleaner after she told him that their marriage was over. The assault was described as brutal, with Hotson beating Ms. Tottle in a fit of rage. Following the murder, Hotson's actions grew even more destructive; he attempted to destroy their marital home by trying to set it on fire and also made a desperate attempt to end his own life by jumping out of a first-floor window.

Judge Neil Ford QC characterized Hotson's actions as occurring 'in a rage,' emphasizing the emotional and physical toll that the abuse had taken on Ms. Tottle. The judge highlighted that despite her suffering, Ms. Tottle had remained loyal to her husband, enduring his abusive behavior for years. The judge stated, 'Julie Tottle had stood by you even when your behaviour towards her became abusive. Finally, it is clear she was ground down by your behaviour and couldn’t take any more. You killed her in a brutal and sustained attack during which she was trying to fend off the blows you were inflicting with a metal tube.'

Members of Ms. Tottle's family, including her elderly mother Angela and her sister Sally Tottle, expressed their grief and relief at the verdict. They described Julie as a 'silent victim,' whose death has left a profound void in their lives. The family members conveyed their sorrow and the devastating impact her loss has had on all who knew her.