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02/11/2012
Homeless Murderer Jailed For Life
A homeless man has been jailed for the rest of his life for the murder of a vicar and a retired teacher.
Stephen Farrow, 48, was convicted of stabbing to death Rev John Suddards, 59, in Thornbury, near Bristol, and Betty Yates, 77, in Bewdley, Worcestershire.
The defendant is reported to have been obsessed with religion and to have hated Christians.
He claimed he had been sexually abused at boarding school by a priest.
Farrow had threatened to kill "Christian scum". The trial heard how he had sent a text message to a friend last New Year’s Eve saying the Church would be "the first to suffer".
The defendant stabbed Mr Suddards seven times in the shoulder, chest and abdomen. He is reported to have told a psychiatrist he intended to crucify the clergyman.
Farrow admitted manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility but denied Mr Suddards’s murder. He denied stabbing Mrs Yates.
Mr Suddards was found on 14 February lying in his hallway surrounded by pornography, a condom wrapper, underwear and a canvas of Jesus Christ.
It is thought Farrow prepared the body in this way to humiliate the clergyman.
The accused would not leave his cell for parts of the trial, even though the jury had requested he attend so they could hear his evidence.
He did appear in the dock for the verdict.
The jury found him guilty with a majority of 11 to one.
(IT)
Stephen Farrow, 48, was convicted of stabbing to death Rev John Suddards, 59, in Thornbury, near Bristol, and Betty Yates, 77, in Bewdley, Worcestershire.
The defendant is reported to have been obsessed with religion and to have hated Christians.
He claimed he had been sexually abused at boarding school by a priest.
Farrow had threatened to kill "Christian scum". The trial heard how he had sent a text message to a friend last New Year’s Eve saying the Church would be "the first to suffer".
The defendant stabbed Mr Suddards seven times in the shoulder, chest and abdomen. He is reported to have told a psychiatrist he intended to crucify the clergyman.
Farrow admitted manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility but denied Mr Suddards’s murder. He denied stabbing Mrs Yates.
Mr Suddards was found on 14 February lying in his hallway surrounded by pornography, a condom wrapper, underwear and a canvas of Jesus Christ.
It is thought Farrow prepared the body in this way to humiliate the clergyman.
The accused would not leave his cell for parts of the trial, even though the jury had requested he attend so they could hear his evidence.
He did appear in the dock for the verdict.
The jury found him guilty with a majority of 11 to one.
(IT)
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