Man jailed for killing own grandmother in Liss
Joshua Powell, 27, has been sent to prison for a minimum of 26 years
Last updated 14th Nov 2025
A man, who sneaked into his grandmother's house while she slept and strangled her, to gain money from her will, has been jailed for life with a minimum term of 26 years, as his mother declared she will struggle to forgive him.
Joshua Powell, 27, killed 96-year-old Emma Finch and then set fire to her home in Mill Road, Liss, Hampshire, in the early hours of May 17 last year.
Powell would visit his grandmother, whom he called oma, once a week, and called her the "one constant in my life that I could count on", in an apology letter he wrote to Portsmouth Crown Court.
The court heard he was in debt, owed money to his landlord and "snapped".
Judge Michael Bowes KC said: "Emma Finch, your grandmother, showed you great kindness and gave you a great deal of money during her life.
"You repaid her kindness by savagely killing her in the expectation of gaining money from her death under her will."
Family members said in victim impact statements read out by the prosecutor that they will never forgive Powell.
The defendant's mother, Catherine Powell, who is Ms Finch's daughter, said she "will struggle ever to forgive him for what he has done".
Peter Finch, Ms Finch's son and Powell's uncle, said: "One of my biggest fears is that mum in those final seconds before she lost consciousness as you were strangling her, that she knew it was you Joshua and that being her final, haunting memory that she took to her grave.
"You, Joshua, betrayed your mum's, your oma's, love that night and that is something for which I can never forgive you.
"I hope you are deeply tormented by those acts for the rest of your life.
"Did my mum, your oma, really deserve to be murdered for the balance of your inheritance? The question that only you can answer."
In his letter to the court, Powell said he does not forgive himself.
"The word sorry does not even begin to cover how I feel for the unforgivable, truly horrible crime I committed," the defendant wrote.
"Oma was the one constant in my life that I could count on. She was there for me no matter how good or bad I behaved as a child. She was a wonderful, caring, loving, happy woman who when entering a room suddenly brightened it up tenfold.
"Forgiveness is not something I expect from any member of the family. Not even I forgive the actions I took on that fateful day.
"The guilt is something I will have to learn to live with. It eats away at me, gnawing my bran and thoughts every single second each day.
"From the bottom of my now destroyed heart and soul I truly am sorry."
The court heard that Powell was diagnosed with Tourette syndrome and found to have reduced cognitive function, but the judge said he "knew perfectly well the difference between right and wrong".
Powell, of Elmfield Court, Lindford, pleaded guilty in May to murdering his grandmother.
Following the sentencing Emma’s family said: “Today we stand outside court having received justice for the murder of our beloved Mum, grandmother and great grandmother due to the cruel and senseless actions of her grandson, Joshua Powell.
“There are no words that can soften the pain we as a family have endured over the last 18 months since those tragic events on the 17th of May 2024, but today’s conviction will finally help to ease that pain as we finally come to terms with Mum’s untimely death.
“We as family would once again like to express our heartfelt gratitude to everyone involved in securing today’s conviction, your tireless professionalism to ensure justice has been served has provided us much comfort and for that we remain forever truly grateful.
“We would like to say a special thank you to the Prosecuting Counsel - Joanna Martin KC and Berenice Mulvanny.
“In addition our thanks go to DCI Howard Broadribb, DS Andy Panter, DC Dan Leese and the wider team from Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary including our family liaison officers - DC Chris Hudson and DC Josephine Hill.
“To our wider family, friends and work colleagues the support you have shown to our family has enabled us to navigate the most difficult and unimaginable painful period in our lives, more so by the depraved actions of a family member.
“Mum throughout her amazing long life showed great courage and perseverance, we as a family must now do the same as we begin the process to rebuild our shattered lives with her ever in our thoughts and prayers. Mum can now finally rest in peace knowing that justice has been served and her grandson will now spend a significant period of his life incarcerated for her murder.
“We kindly ask that our family is given the time and privacy to finally be allowed to grieve our loss. Thank You.”