UK Man Kills Wife, Chops Body Into 224 Pieces, Dumps Remains In River

A 28-year-old man from Lincoln, England, confessed to murdering his wife, chopping up her body and dumping the remains into a river back in 2023. Nicholas Metson, who had earlier denied involvement in 26-year-old Holly Bramley's murder, admitted to the crime during a recent court hearing. Another man, 28-year-old Joshua Hancock, who was allegedly a friend of Metson’s, admitted to helping dump the body. Metson admitted to keeping his wife’s remains in their flat for about a week before paying Hancock to dispose of them. According to BBC, the couple were on the verge of separating, and Metson never gave a reason for his actions.

The report states that Metson withdrew money from Bramley's bank account after the murder and also looked up questions such as "What benefits do I get if my wife has died?", "Can someone haunt me after they die", "How to get rid of a dead body?” and “Does God forgive murder?"

Nicholas Metson Case

On March 25, 2023, Holly Bramley's body, cut up in 224 pieces, was found in the Witham River at Bassingham, Lincolnshire, eight days after she was reported missing. While Metson initially denied his involvement in the murder, he confessed to killing her and chopping her body.

During an April 5 court hearing, it was revealed that Metson paid his friend Joshua Hancock to dispose of the body in the river. The couple, who married in 2021, were amid a separation agreement when Metson killed Bramley. He repeatedly stabbed her at their apartment in Lincoln, the court was told.

According to the victim impact statements, Metson used to abuse Bramley, and described him as an "evil monster" who subjected her to "coercive control and manipulation". The statements said that the couple's marriage of 16 months had "broken down irretrievably".

On March 24, 2023, the Lincolnshire Police received a call expressing concern over Bramley's safety, following which a team was sent to the couple's apartment. When the police team reached their house, Metson opened the door and told the officers he was a victim of domestic abuse.

When the police revisited their apartment the next day, they found bloodstained sheets in a bathtub, large dark stains on the floor in the main bedroom, a saw in the kitchen and also noticed a strong smell of ammonia and bleach. That evening, a passer-by noticed plastic bags floating in the Witham River, including one which had a severed hand.

Reportedly, Metson was also convicted for offences against former partners in 2013, 2016 and 2017. Moreover, he had also been charged with animal abuse in the past. According to the Daily Mail, he once put her new puppy in the washing machine and also killed her hamsters.

According to Metson's defence lawyer, the convict has autism spectrum disorder, which impacts his self-control and ability to empathise with others. "With his autism and other disorders, he has a highly restricted capacity for remorse, he has profound difficulties reading the feelings of others."