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| Wife 'witnessed vicar's murder' | Wife 'witnessed vicar's murder' |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Police investigating the murder of a vicar in the grounds of his church have revealed his wife was with him when he was attacked. | Police investigating the murder of a vicar in the grounds of his church have revealed his wife was with him when he was attacked. |
| Father Paul Bennett, 59, was killed in the grounds of St Fagan's Church in Trecynon, near Aberdare, on Wednesday. He had been stabbed several times. | |
| Police have now recovered a knife from the scene. It is thought to be the murder weapon. | |
| A 23-year-old local man arrested in the church grounds is being questioned. | |
| South Wales Police said they were also examining a nearby flat which they believed was connected to the incident. | |
| Meanwhile, memorial services for Father Bennett, a father-of-two, are also taking place on Thursday morning. | |
| Speaking to BBC Wales, Chief Superintendent Jeff Farrar said: "Father Bennett was a well-respected, popular member of the community and it's a shocking and horrific event for Aberdare. | |
| "We are interviewing the individual who was arrested there yesterday. It would probably be too early for me to confirm the exact circumstances of that." | "We are interviewing the individual who was arrested there yesterday. It would probably be too early for me to confirm the exact circumstances of that." |
| He added: "His wife was there at the scene when he was killed." | He added: "His wife was there at the scene when he was killed." |
| Police were called to St Fagan's Church at about 1450 GMT on Wednesday where they found the body of the vicar. | |
| The church was cordoned off and scenes of crime officers carried out a forensic search of the area throughout the night. | The church was cordoned off and scenes of crime officers carried out a forensic search of the area throughout the night. |
| A post mortem examination is due to be held on Thursday. | A post mortem examination is due to be held on Thursday. |
| Shocked parishioners congregated at the adjacent church hall on Wednesday evening where prayers were said and candles lit in memory of Father Bennett. | Shocked parishioners congregated at the adjacent church hall on Wednesday evening where prayers were said and candles lit in memory of Father Bennett. |
| Archbishop Morgan, said: "The loss to his family and parish is immeasurable." | Archbishop Morgan, said: "The loss to his family and parish is immeasurable." |
| He described Father Bennett, who had been a vicar for 22 years and at Trecynon for five, as "very shy" and "devout". | He described Father Bennett, who had been a vicar for 22 years and at Trecynon for five, as "very shy" and "devout". |
| He said: "What was remarkable last night was that the parishioners had set up an altar in the church. | He said: "What was remarkable last night was that the parishioners had set up an altar in the church. |
| Parishioners have laid flowers at the scene | |
| "Local people came to say prayers and to light candles but a lot of young people also came. | "Local people came to say prayers and to light candles but a lot of young people also came. |
| "The work of a parish priest goes on very quietly and they touch the lives of a lot of people and nobody else knows about that kind of ministry." | "The work of a parish priest goes on very quietly and they touch the lives of a lot of people and nobody else knows about that kind of ministry." |
| Local residents have spoken of the scene as police arrived at the church. | Local residents have spoken of the scene as police arrived at the church. |
| Malcolm Perry, who lives in Windsor Street, next to St Fagan's Church, said: "There were lots of police everywhere, rushing into the vicarage followed by the ambulance. | Malcolm Perry, who lives in Windsor Street, next to St Fagan's Church, said: "There were lots of police everywhere, rushing into the vicarage followed by the ambulance. |
| "The police were at the scene very quickly. I saw a man being taken away by two or three officers." | "The police were at the scene very quickly. I saw a man being taken away by two or three officers." |
| A memorial service was held at St Luke's Church in Cwmdare at 0930 GMT on Thursday. Another service is being held at a local school. | |
| Pupils will say prayers at St John the Baptist High School in Aberdare where Father Bennett used to hold assemblies and from where he collected his grandson every day. | |
| Anyone with information can contact the incident room at Mountain Ash police station on 01443 743678 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111. | |