Grandson's Brutal Betrayal: The Murder of Emma Finch
A 27-year-old man from Lindford has been sentenced to life in prison with a minimum term of 26 years for the murder of his 96-year-old grandmother in a shocking case driven by inheritance greed. Joshua Powell strangled his grandmother, Emma Finch, whom he affectionately called "oma," during a brutal late-night attack at her home.
The Portsmouth Crown Court heard on Friday, November 14, how Powell broke into his grandmother's residence in the early hours of May 17, 2024, and used a belt to strangle the elderly woman. Following the murder, he set fire to the bed where her body lay in a desperate attempt to destroy evidence and conceal his horrific crime.
The Chilling Evidence and Motive
CCTV footage captured Powell leaving his flat hours before the murder with the belt he would later use to kill his grandmother. After committing the crime, he attempted to hide the belt in nearby bushes. The investigation revealed that Powell had opened the key safe outside Ms Finch's back door and removed the key, with police later discovering the safe's combination stored as a note on his phone.
Fire crews were alerted to the scene at approximately 4 am when a carbon monoxide alarm triggered an automatic alert. When firefighters forced their way into the property, they discovered a fire burning in a back bedroom. A post mortem examination confirmed that Ms Finch had been strangled before the fire was set.
The court learned that Powell was drowning in substantial debt, owing his landlord £2,500 and approximately £8,000 to various companies. Friends told investigators that in the weeks leading up to the murder, Powell had complained about being broke and expressed hope that his grandmother would die soon because he expected to inherit money from her will.
Family's Heartbreaking Impact Statements
Emma Finch was described as a beloved family matriarch - a mother of two, grandmother of six, and great-grandmother of three. Several relatives delivered emotional victim impact statements in court, expressing their profound grief and inability to forgive Powell for his actions.
Powell's own mother, Catherine Powell, stated she would "struggle ever to forgive him for what he has done." Ms Finch's son and Powell's uncle, Peter Finch, shared the haunting fear that his mother may have realized Powell was her attacker in her final moments, calling it a "haunting memory" that she may have carried to her grave.
Peter Finch directly addressed his nephew in court, saying: "You betrayed your mum's love that night and that is something for which I can never forgive you."
Justice Served and Final Words
Judge Michael Bowes KC told Powell that his grandmother had shown him nothing but love and generosity throughout his life, yet he had repaid her kindness with "a savage killing" motivated by financial gain. The judge emphasized that Powell clearly intended to kill his grandmother and subsequently attempted to cover his tracks by burning her body and lying to police.
Despite Powell having Tourette syndrome and reduced cognitive function, the judge noted that he "knew perfectly well the difference between right and wrong."
In a written apology to the court, Powell expressed deep remorse, writing: "The word sorry does not even begin to cover how I feel for the unforgivable, truly horrible crime I committed." He described Ms Finch as "the one constant in my life that I could count on" and a loving, caring woman who brightened every room she entered.
Following the sentencing, the family issued a statement saying there were no words to describe their pain over the past 18 months but expressed relief that the conviction would help them begin to heal and allow Ms Finch to rest in peace knowing justice had been served.
