Man found guilty for murder of Betty Yates
A 48-year-old man has been found guilty for the murders of retired teacher Betty Yates from Worcestershire and Reverend John Suddards.
A 48-year-old man has been found guilty for the murders of retired teacher Betty Yates from Worcestershire and Reverend John Suddards.
Jurors in the trial of Stephen Farrow, accused of the murders of a vicar and retired teacher, have been sent out to begin deliberations.
The man on trial for the murders of retired teacher Betty Yates in Worcestershire refused to move from his cell to go to court today.
Tributes are being paid on the 'RIP Betty Yates, the best teacher there was' Facebook page on the eve of the one year anniversary of the murder of Betty Yates.
The retired school teacher from Worcestershire was murdered by Stephen Farrow on January 4th 2012.
Farrows trial was told he has psychopathic tendencies and had planned to crucify Rev Suddards.
At a nearby burglary he left a note: "be thankful you did not come back or I would have killed you Christian scum, hate God."
Former pupil Verity Worthington spoke to Central News recently. She described Betty Yates as a teacher who 'brought real life to the classroom'.
During the trial Stephen Farrow exercised his right not to attend on some days, which the judge told the jury should not affect their verdict.
This says Verity is something she found difficult to accept.
Stephen Farrow displayed no emotion in court earlier as the jury returned their verdicts after spending eight-and-a-half hours' deliberation.
He stood silently as the judge told him he would spend the rest of his life in prison.
Former pupil Verity Worthington spoke to Central News recently when she described Betty Yates as a teacher who "brought real life to the class room" with parties under the tables, cherry walks and summertime lessons on the grass outside.
Freddie Starr, who was arrested yesterday by police officers investigating the Jimmy Savile abuse scandal, has returned for further questioning.
The Metropolitan Police confirmed a man in his 60s from Warwickshire is being interviewed again today.
For more on this story see ITV News
Mr Justice Field told Stephen Farrow at Bristol Crown Court today:
– Mr Justice Field"On January 2 this year you somehow got into Betty Yates's home in the afternoon or early evening ...
"You struck Mrs Yates from behind with a heavy walking stick, hitting her hard at least twice to the back of the head with the rounded, bulbous handle.
"You hit her with such force that the walking stick splintered ...
"You then arranged her body and you put a pillow under her head.
"I am quite sure that having done that, you then inflicted the four stab wounds which you inflicted.
"You left the knife in the fatal wound - the wound that was going to bleed the most profusely."