• 2 years ago
• Posted in:Domestic violence, Murder/ Manslaughter, Violent Offences
• 0
• Author: Thomas Gradgrind
• Tags: 15+ years imprisonment, Aged 30-39, Convicted 2010, Cross dresser, Crossdressing while offending, Domestic violence, Drug misuse, England, Family member victim, Female victim, Hammer, Leicestershire, Leicestershire Police, Offended 2010, Overkill, Steroids, Strangulation, Transvestite, Victim impact statement

Matthew Ashill, a violent male transvestite, was convicted in September 2010 at Leicester Crown Court of the murder of his wife Clare. Ashill, 37, was sentenced to life in prison and told he must serve at least 15 years behind bars.

Reportedly, Ashill – who regularly wore stereotypically female clothes – was wearing a pink dress on 21 March 2010 when he attacked 31-year-old Clare with dumb bells, a claw hammer and a kitchen knife, then strangled her. Stopping only to remove his dress when it was soaked with blood, Ashill inflicted 80 injuries to Clare Ashill’s head, neck and body, including three fatal knife wounds to her heart. This infliction of far more injuries than is necessary to kill someone is termed overkill, and is commonly seen in domestic homicides.

After killing his wife, Ashill then carried on drinking and taking drugs and later walked the dog and chatted to neighbours – he was said to have binged on cocaine, steroids, booze and cannabis for 12 hours prior to the murder. The court heard that the couple had argued about Ashill’s long-term drug use where he would go on binges for several days and the hundreds of pounds he spent on women’s clothing to wear when out clubbing.

Following the sentencing, Clare’s parents Roger and Elaine Medway said: “Clare had her whole life ahead of her and it was taken away so cruelly. She was a lovely vibrant girl with an amazing zest for life.  Knowing we will never see her again has completely shattered our lives and we will never be the same.”

Media reports

The Mirror 05.09.2010 (archived) ‘Wife killed in hammer drug frenzy‘ archive

Daily Star https://www.dailystar.co.uk/news/latest-news/real-life-psycho-cross-dresser-18245313 archive

Heart fm https://www.heart.co.uk/eastmids/news/local/man-gets-life-killing-ex-wife/ archive

Leicester Mercury 04.09.10 Man who murdered his wife in a horrific attack gets a life sentence archive

Sunday Sport https://www.pressreader.com/uk/sunday-sport-1098/20100905/284344015921389