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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Alan Greaves killing: Ashley Foster guilty of manslaughter | Alan Greaves killing: Ashley Foster guilty of manslaughter |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A man has been found guilty of the manslaughter of organist Alan Greaves on Christmas Eve in Sheffield. | A man has been found guilty of the manslaughter of organist Alan Greaves on Christmas Eve in Sheffield. |
| Alan Greaves, 68, was attacked with a pick-axe handle as he made his way to St Saviour's Church, in High Green, Sheffield, on 24 December. | Alan Greaves, 68, was attacked with a pick-axe handle as he made his way to St Saviour's Church, in High Green, Sheffield, on 24 December. |
| Ashley Foster, 22, of Wesley Road, High Green was cleared of murder after a trial at Sheffield Crown Court. | Ashley Foster, 22, of Wesley Road, High Green was cleared of murder after a trial at Sheffield Crown Court. |
| Jonathan Bowling, also 22, of Carwood Way, Pitsmoor, Sheffield had earlier admitted murdering Mr Greaves. | Jonathan Bowling, also 22, of Carwood Way, Pitsmoor, Sheffield had earlier admitted murdering Mr Greaves. |
| The jury found Foster not guilty of murder. | The jury found Foster not guilty of murder. |
| Confusion in court | Confusion in court |
| Both men are to be sentenced on Friday. | Both men are to be sentenced on Friday. |
| There was confusion in court after the clerk only asked the jury foreman whether Foster was guilty of murder. | There was confusion in court after the clerk only asked the jury foreman whether Foster was guilty of murder. |
| When the foreman said "not guilty" there were celebrations from Foster's family. | When the foreman said "not guilty" there were celebrations from Foster's family. |
| But as Mr Greaves' widow Maureen looked shocked and confused, the jury foreman, who had already been asked to sit, shouted "but guilty of manslaughter". | But as Mr Greaves' widow Maureen looked shocked and confused, the jury foreman, who had already been asked to sit, shouted "but guilty of manslaughter". |
| The jury of six men and six women returned its verdicts after 13 hours of deliberations. | The jury of six men and six women returned its verdicts after 13 hours of deliberations. |
| Speaking after the verdict, Mrs Greaves said: "Society needs protecting from people who do such evil acts and I am satisfied and relieved by the result of the court today, however no sentence will bring Alan back. | |
| "Alan was a wonderful man who is so dearly missed. Our lives will never be the same again." | |
| The Reverend Canon Simon Bessant, the vicar at St Saviour's, said: "We condemn absolutely the evil attack upon Alan as he walked to church to play the organ on Christmas Eve night. | |
| "Alan was intending to celebrate the coming of light at Christmas, yet he himself was the victim of darkness just a few minutes away from the doors of the church." |