Lincoln man given a life sentence with a minimum of 19 years for wife's murder

Today at Lincoln Crown Court, a Lincolnshire husband who murdered his wife and disposed of her body in a river has been sentenced to life with a minimum of 19 years.

The murder happened between March 17th and 25th last year.

Police launched an investigation after concerns were raised over 26 year old Holly Bramley's welfare following her disappearance.

Officers were called out to Shuttleworth house in Lincoln after reports of an incident there.

Eventually remains were found about 10 miles South of the city, in the River Witham at Bassingham, which were confirmed to be hers.

Metson had previously told police his wife had left with a mental health crisis team

28-year-old Nicholas Metson, of Stamp End, Lincoln was due to stand trial for murder.

However, at a previous hearing in court on the 23rd of February, he changed his plea to guilty.

A second man, 28 year old Joshua Hancock of Walnut Close in Waddington was also sentenced today in relation to this case.

He'd also changed his plea in February this year to guilty of disposing of a corpse with intent to obstruct or prevent a coroner's inquest.

He'll serve 2 years and 6 months for that charge.

Before her remains were found and while Ms Bramley was missing, Lincolnshire Police attended the flat they shared, with Metson telling them his wife had left their home on March 19 with two members of a local mental health crisis team.

Officers noticed a "strong smell of bleach and ammonia" in the flat, saw a towel and bloodstained sheets in their bathroom and a large bloodstain on their bedroom floor.

After discovering what Metson had told them about his wife's disappearance was a lie, he was arrested and charged with her murder and perverting the course of justice.

Holly's family say they've lost a piece of themselves

A search of his mobile phone revealed Metson had made Google searches including "How to get rid of a dead body", "What benefits can I get if my wife dies" and "Does God forgive murder".

26 year old Holly Bramley was described as a 'beautiful kind and loving person' by her mother at the sentencing hearing on Friday.

Reading their victim impact statements members of her family said they'd 'lost a piece of themselves' and called her killer an 'evil monster'

Whilst in court the prosecution said that 28-year-old Nicholas Metson, of Stamp End, in Lincoln had stabbed Holly to death and left her remains in River Witham at Bassingham

He was due to stand trial but at a previous hearing he changed his plea to guilty.

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