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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
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| Alan Greaves murder probe after Christmas Eve attack in Sheffield | Alan Greaves murder probe after Christmas Eve attack in Sheffield |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A church organist and lay preacher has died after being attacked on his way to Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve. | A church organist and lay preacher has died after being attacked on his way to Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve. |
| The death of Alan Greaves, 68, of High Green, Sheffield is being treated as murder by South Yorkshire Police. | |
| The father-of-four was found on a pavement near his home on Greengate Lane with a head injury at about 23:15 GMT on Monday. | |
| He died on Thursday evening after being treated at the city's Northern General Hospital, police said. | |
| Reverend Canon Simon Bessant from St Saviour's Church, who worked closely with Mr Greaves and his wife Maureen, a church community worker, said: "He was a good man and this was an evil act." | |
| 'He never arrived' | |
| Mr Greaves had been making his way to the church as he was due to play the organ at a special communion service. | |
| Mr Bessant said: "He never arrived, which we thought was strange. | |
| "Sadly, he was attacked about 250 yards from the church. His family were all at home and the police contacted them at about midnight to say there has been an accident. | |
| "I spent most of Christmas Day with him and the family. They have a strong faith but that doesn't mean you don't feel the difficulty. | |
| "It was a hard vigil by his bedside, watching him struggle. | |
| "His wife wants justice but she doesn't want vengeance. She is not embittered but obviously she wants this person to be caught." | |
| Det Supt Matt Fenwick, senior investigating officer in the case, said: "Mr Greaves appears to have suffered a brutal attack after leaving his home address to attend Midnight Mass. At this stage, the motive is unclear. | Det Supt Matt Fenwick, senior investigating officer in the case, said: "Mr Greaves appears to have suffered a brutal attack after leaving his home address to attend Midnight Mass. At this stage, the motive is unclear. |
| "I want to hear from anyone who witnessed the incident. If you know who did this, please come forward and offer your support to the family at this difficult time." | "I want to hear from anyone who witnessed the incident. If you know who did this, please come forward and offer your support to the family at this difficult time." |
| Mr Bessant said the community was "deeply shocked and traumatised by the news". | |
| He said: "This is a man who led his professional life in Sheffield as a social worker. He and his wife worked in children's work. He has given himself to the community. | He said: "This is a man who led his professional life in Sheffield as a social worker. He and his wife worked in children's work. He has given himself to the community. |
| "He was very much a gentle giant. I can't find any other better word to describe Alan other than to say he is a good man. | "He was very much a gentle giant. I can't find any other better word to describe Alan other than to say he is a good man. |
| "There is no sense of understanding of why or how such a thing should happen." | "There is no sense of understanding of why or how such a thing should happen." |