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| Stephen Farrow: John Suddards and Betty Yates murderer jailed for life | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A homeless drifter who murdered a vicar and a retired teacher has been sentenced to spend the rest of his life in prison. | A homeless drifter who murdered a vicar and a retired teacher has been sentenced to spend the rest of his life in prison. |
| Stephen Farrow, 48, who was obsessed with religion, had admitted the manslaughter of the Rev John Suddards, 59, in Thornbury, near Bristol, but denied his murder. | Stephen Farrow, 48, who was obsessed with religion, had admitted the manslaughter of the Rev John Suddards, 59, in Thornbury, near Bristol, but denied his murder. |
| He denied stabbing Betty Yates, 77, at her home, in Bewdley, Worcestershire. | He denied stabbing Betty Yates, 77, at her home, in Bewdley, Worcestershire. |
| But the jury at Bristol Crown Court found him guilty of both murders. | But the jury at Bristol Crown Court found him guilty of both murders. |
| Farrow had refused to leave his cell for parts of the trial, despite a jury request to attend so they could hear his evidence. However he was in the dock for the verdicts. | Farrow had refused to leave his cell for parts of the trial, despite a jury request to attend so they could hear his evidence. However he was in the dock for the verdicts. |
| He had been diagnosed with a psychopathic personality disorder and his barrister argued it "substantially affected" his ability to exercise self-control. | He had been diagnosed with a psychopathic personality disorder and his barrister argued it "substantially affected" his ability to exercise self-control. |
| He had pleaded guilty to the vicar's manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility. | He had pleaded guilty to the vicar's manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility. |
| 'Christian scum' | 'Christian scum' |
| But by finding him guilty of murder, the jury found he knew what he was doing when he stabbed both victims. | But by finding him guilty of murder, the jury found he knew what he was doing when he stabbed both victims. |
| Farrow claimed he had been sexually abused at boarding school by a priest, and that he wanted to murder the Archbishop of Canterbury. | Farrow claimed he had been sexually abused at boarding school by a priest, and that he wanted to murder the Archbishop of Canterbury. |
| The murder of Mr Suddards at his vicarage was the culmination of a two-month reign of terror in which Farrow killed Mrs Yates and threatened to kill "Christian scum". | The murder of Mr Suddards at his vicarage was the culmination of a two-month reign of terror in which Farrow killed Mrs Yates and threatened to kill "Christian scum". |
| The trial had heard that Farrow sent a chilling text message to a friend on New Year's Eve last year, warning her that the "Church will be the first to suffer". | The trial had heard that Farrow sent a chilling text message to a friend on New Year's Eve last year, warning her that the "Church will be the first to suffer". |
| Farrow told a psychiatrist he had intended to crucify the clergyman and his death was part of his desire to "fulfil his fantasy". | Farrow told a psychiatrist he had intended to crucify the clergyman and his death was part of his desire to "fulfil his fantasy". |
| DNA evidence | DNA evidence |
| Mr Suddards was stabbed seven times and suffered wounds to his shoulder, chest, abdomen and shoulder. | Mr Suddards was stabbed seven times and suffered wounds to his shoulder, chest, abdomen and shoulder. |
| He was discovered on the morning of 14 February lying on his back in the hallway of his vicarage and surrounded by pornography, party poppers, a condom wrapper, underwear, a canvas of Jesus Christ and a mirror. | He was discovered on the morning of 14 February lying on his back in the hallway of his vicarage and surrounded by pornography, party poppers, a condom wrapper, underwear, a canvas of Jesus Christ and a mirror. |
| A copy of the New Testament - open to the Letter of Jude - was found on Mr Suddards's chest with an A3-sized calendar of a semi-naked male model covering the lower half of his body. | A copy of the New Testament - open to the Letter of Jude - was found on Mr Suddards's chest with an A3-sized calendar of a semi-naked male model covering the lower half of his body. |
| After fatally stabbing Mr Suddards on the night of 13 February, Farrow stayed at his victim's home to watch an Indiana Jones DVD and drink beer. | After fatally stabbing Mr Suddards on the night of 13 February, Farrow stayed at his victim's home to watch an Indiana Jones DVD and drink beer. |
| DNA evidence linked the heavy cannabis user to the murders of Mr Suddards and widow Mrs Yates, who was found dead at her cottage on 4 January, having been killed two days earlier. | DNA evidence linked the heavy cannabis user to the murders of Mr Suddards and widow Mrs Yates, who was found dead at her cottage on 4 January, having been killed two days earlier. |
| Mrs Yates's body was found lying in her hallway with her head resting on a cushion. | Mrs Yates's body was found lying in her hallway with her head resting on a cushion. |
| She had been beaten with a walking stick and stabbed four times in the head, with the knife still embedded in her neck. | She had been beaten with a walking stick and stabbed four times in the head, with the knife still embedded in her neck. |
| Mr Suddards and Mrs Yates were both killed weeks after a burglary at Vine Cottage, near the vicarage in Thornbury. | Mr Suddards and Mrs Yates were both killed weeks after a burglary at Vine Cottage, near the vicarage in Thornbury. |
| Owners Alan and Margaret Pinder spent Christmas and New Year away and returned to find a note pinned to a table by two knives, which read: "Be thankful you didn't come back or we would have killed you, Christian scum. I hate God." | |
| Farrow pleaded guilty to the burglary at an earlier hearing. | Farrow pleaded guilty to the burglary at an earlier hearing. |
| The jury was unanimous in finding Farrow guilty of the vicar's murder, and found him guilty of murdering Mrs Yates by a majority of 11 to one. | The jury was unanimous in finding Farrow guilty of the vicar's murder, and found him guilty of murdering Mrs Yates by a majority of 11 to one. |