Moment remorseless killer laughs as police interview him for homophobic murder of 'true gentleman' that was so sickening officers were stopped from looking at video evidence

By MARK DUELL, DEPUTY CHIEF REPORTER (DIGITAL) Published: 00:50, 11 August 2026 | Updated: 00:50, 11 August 2026 This is the moment a remorseless killer began laughing while police questioned him over the homophobic murder of a 'true gentleman' he had tortured for two days. Matthew Jonathan, 40, filmed himself assaulting Jamie Gawler, 54, who was found dead at his Hereford home following the prolonged assaults in January 2025. Jonathan, who had only met Mr Gawler a month before, filmed the sickening attacks on his mobile phone and was later jailed for 32 years at Worcester Crown Court. Mr Gawler's brother first became worried when he called his phone and it was answered by a police officer after it was found at Porth railway station in South Wales. The brother went to Mr Gawler's flat where he found blood on the hallway floor and walls before discovering him dead in an armchair with a towel over his face, having suffered significant injuries to his head, neck and chest – including most of his ribs. A fingerprint from a vodka bottle in the flat was matched to Jonathan, who had fled Hereford but was traced to Wales by police who followed his financial transactions. Now, newly released video featuring in the popular BBC crime documentary Murder 24/7 shows Jonathan laughing while being questioned by West Mercia Police. The clip begins with a detective asking Jonathan whether he was 'in possession of Jamie's phone'. Jonathan replies: 'No comment.' The officer says: 'Now, that phone has been recovered.' And Jonathan tells her: 'So? What's it got to do with me?' Jamie Gawler, 54, was found dead at his home in Hereford following the prolonged assault Matthew Jonathan, 40, filmed himself attacking the victim and was later jailed for 32 years The detective asks him to 'account for that' but he responds: 'I ain't accounting for s**t.' She continues: 'I'm asking you to account for how Jamie's phone has made a telephone call to your brother.' Jonathan then starts laughing, prompting the detective to ask: 'Are you alright?' He stops laughing and tells her: 'Yeah, I'm fine thank you.' But she says: 'You're laughing. Why are you laughing? It's not a laughing matter.' He insists that 'all this is a joke' but she describes it as a 'serious investigation'. Jonathan goes on: 'It might be a serious investigation but it's nothing to do with me. Nothing to do with me, leave me alone. Leave me to just live my life.' The detective says: 'You're sat here and we're asking you questions about a serious matter.' But he claims her questions will 'get the same answer over and over and over again'. The detective goes on: 'Obviously we're doing our investigations and we're here to gather the information.'  But Jonathan replies: 'Yeah, but it's b*****ks'. She says: 'Well, tell us why it's b*****ks?'  He says: 'You are the police, do your work.' The detective tells him: 'Well, I'm doing my work by asking you questions now, Matthew.' But he responds: 'You're clutching at straws, just wasting my time, wasting my time and wasting everybody else's time.' Mr Gawler had become friendly with homeless Jonathan after meeting him at a night shelter in Hereford in December 2024. Jonathan is showing during an interview with West Mercia Police detectives last year Jonathan initially denied having any part in Mr Gawler's death but later admitted murdering him Jonathan had recently been released from prison, and Mr Gawler offered him a place to stay at his flat for Christmas because it was so cold outside. But the 'kind, funny and gentle' victim endured a shocking series of attacks which left him incapacitated, while Jonathan stole and used his mobile phone and bank cards to buy alcohol. Video and photo evidence captured by Jonathan on his phone showed Mr Gawler gravely injured as the killer tortured and directed homophobic abuse at him. Once he knew Mr Gawler was dead, Jonathan fled and boarded a train for Cardiff with a friend before getting off about 15 miles away in Porth. CCTV from Porth railway station showed Jonathan falling backwards, hitting his head and lying unconscious – before attacking a paramedic sent to help him. Jonathan left Mr Gawler's phone and bank cards on the platform floor, as well as his own, which is how they were discovered by police – who made the link. Jonathan was then arrested by South Wales Police outside Square's nightclub in Porth, then transferred to Hereford police station, where he was interviewed by detectives. When custody photographs of Jonathan – who later pleaded guilty to murder – were being taken, police also saw the words 'Natural Born Killer' were tattooed across his back. While being questioned, Jonathan denied having any part in Mr Gawler's death, claiming he had left him alive and was distraught that he was dead. But he admitted murder soon after at a hearing in April 2025 and was sentenced in the September. Police found the words 'Natural Born Killer' were tattooed across Jonathan's back Jonathan has forensic photographs taken of his hands while in police custody Officers also later found the horrifying videos of the assault on Jonathan's phone. In one clip, Jonathan bragged that he was willing to do a lengthy prison sentence for his crimes, saying: 'I'll do 30 years for this, I don't care.' In another, he showed no mercy even as Mr Gawler pleaded for his mother, telling him: 'Don't give me that broken face b******.' The investigation was led by Detective Chief Inspector Gareth Lougher, who said: 'The videos that were found were the worst I've ever seen in my 22-year career. Extreme sadistic violence.' He added: 'That's the first time I've had to prevent members of the investigation team viewing evidence because they were that violent.' Officers added that the injuries on Jonathan's face seen in his mugshot were the 'result of a medical episode'. Jonathan had 18 previous convictions covering 33 offences such as strangulation, drug possession and the assault of a grandmother. He had only been let out of prison for his most recent offence six weeks before the murder. After Jonathan was sentenced, Mr Gawler's family said: 'Jamie will be forever in our hearts and remembered as the kind, funny and gentle man that he was.' In another statement after his death, relatives said: 'Jamie was a true gentleman and a very much-loved son, brother, uncle and friend. The family are devastated by his passing.' Mr Gawler was also described as a quiet and generous man who went to church and attended Alcoholics Anonymous meetings. 'Murder 24/7' is available to view on BBC iPlayer