Convicted killer Matthew Jonathan (Image: BBC/Expectation Entertainment Ltd)

New footage shown in the BBC true-crime series Murder 24/7 shows convicted killer Matthew Jonathan laughing during a police interview about the homophobic murder of Jamie Gawler.

Jonathan, 40, was jailed for 32 years for murdering Gawler, 54, who was found dead at his Hereford home after a days-long attack in January 2025.

In the interview shown in the two-part programme, sub-titled “Natural Born Killer”, a West Mercia Police detective asks Jonathan whether he was in possession of Gawler’s phone. Jonathan replies: “No comment.” When told the phone had been recovered, he says: “So? What’s it got to do with me?”

As the questioning continues, Jonathan tells the detective: “I ain’t accounting for s***.” He then begins laughing, prompting the officer to say: “You’re laughing. Why are you laughing? It’s not a laughing matter.” Jonathan later insists: “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.”

Evidence showed Jonathan filmed the attacks on his mobile phone and directed homophobic abuse at Gawler.

Gawler became friendly with Jonathan, who has a tattoo reading “natural born killer” on his back, after meeting him at a night shelter in Hereford in December 2024, and offered him somewhere to stay over Christmas because it was cold outside. Jonathan had reportedly known him for about a month.

Gawler’s brother became concerned when he called his brother’s phone and a police officer answered. He tragically found his brother dead at home when he went to check on him.

After the killing, Jonathan fled Hereford and was traced to Wales after police followed his financial transactions. He was arrested in Porth by South Wales Police and transferred to Hereford for interview.

Detective Chief Inspector Gareth Lougher said the videos recovered during the investigation 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.”

In January 2025, Gawler’s family said in a statement, via West Mercia Police: “Jamie was a true gentleman and a very much-loved son, brother, uncle and friend. The family are devastated by his passing and will remember him as the kind, generous and funny man he was.”

After Jonathan was sentenced, they said in September 2025: “We would like to thank the West Mercia Police and prosecution team for their dedication and support in bringing this case to its conclusion.

“The last eight months have been extremely traumatic for our family as we try, in our own way, to process the loss of Jamie, our son, brother, uncle and friend to many. Our lives have been changed forever and today has been another difficult day having to revisit what happened, but we are glad that some justice has been achieved.

“Jamie will be forever in our hearts and remembered as the kind, funny and gentle man that he was.”

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