West Country (E) stephen farrow News

The trial of a man accused of murdering a vicar and a retired teacher has been adjourned until Monday.

Stephen Farrow, who's 48, is charged with murdering the Reverend John Suddards at his vicarage in Thornbury and Betty Yates in Worcestershire.

Mr Farrow did not appear in court yesterday after refusing to leave Long Lartin Prison where he is being held.

He denies two counts of murder but has admitted Mr Suddards's manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility.

Bristol Crown Court has heard that, after his arrest in Kent in February, Mr Farrow was interviewed at Trinity Road Police Station in Bristol with a solicitor and an appropriate adult present. He answered "no comment" to every question he was asked during three days of interviews.

The court was also told that a rucksack containing a bag of nails had been recovered from a barn near Eastbourne. The jury had previously heard that the defendant had told a mental health nurse that he wanted to crucify Rev Suddards but had left a bag with nails and a hammer in Eastbourne.

The prosecution's case has now closed.

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• Stephen Farrow
• Rev John Suddards

The jury in the trial of double murder suspect Stephen Farrow has heard from Rev Andrew Evans who knew the defendant from his visits to his church in Bridport, Dorset. Mr Farrow would visit for food and drink.

Often he would be very assertive or aggressive in his attitude towards the church. He could not understand why no church would give him money. Only on one occasion did I feel threatened by him. He asked several times (for money), each time more assertively. Others were scared of him and his mood swings.

Stephen Farrow, who's 49, denies the murder of Rev John Suddards at his vicarage in Thornbury, S Glos on February 14 but admits manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility. He also denies the murder of 77-year-old Betty Yates at her Worcestershire home in January.

The trial continues

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• Stephen Farrow

Images of a killer filmed on CCTV moments after he stabbed a vicar to death were shown to a jury today.

They show Stephen Farrow reading a newspaper on a bus as he headed away from the crime scene in South Gloucestershire.

He denies murdering Reverend John Suddards at his vicarage in Thornbury but admits manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility.

It was also revealed the word 'help' was scrawled on a wall at the vicar's home.

Richard Payne reports from Bristol Crown Court:

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• Thornbury
• Stephen Farrow

A murder trial has been hearing more about the life of Thornbury vicar John Suddards in the weeks before his death.

In a written statement, the jury at Bristol Crown Court heard from the Archdeacon of Colchester, a friend of Rev Suddards since 2004. He described the vicar as 'faithful, generous and loyal. A deep thinker.'

Rev Suddards moved to Thornbury in June 2011 for 'a big challenge' in his career.

Rev Martin Fletcher said his friend and colleague 'had one last job in him. He wanted to finish his career on a high.' On hearing of Rev Suddards' death, he said: 'I was in utter shock. I prayed for him.'

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• Stephen Farrow
• Rev John Suddards

The trial of the man accused of murdering a vicar from Thornbury had to be delayed earlier.

Stephen Farrow is charged with the murder of the Rev John Suddards and pensioner Betty Yates.

He's admitted manslaughter of the vicar on the grounds of diminished responsibility but denies murder.

• UK
• Stephen Farrow
• Betty Yates

The defendant accused of the murders of Thornbury vicar the Rev John Suddards and Betty Yates from Worcs refused to appear in court at the start of today's trial.

The trial continued in the absence of Stephen Farrow.

The judge told the jury ' This is his right. You should not hold this against him'.

• UK
• Stephen Farrow
• Rev John Suddards