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| Stalker in bolt gun murder jailed | |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| A "delusional" killer has been jailed for life for murdering a mother with a bolt gun, hours after she had phoned police expressing fears about him. | A "delusional" killer has been jailed for life for murdering a mother with a bolt gun, hours after she had phoned police expressing fears about him. |
| Mary Griffiths, 38, of Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, died early on 6 May after the attack, which also left one of her three daughters with minor injuries. | Mary Griffiths, 38, of Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, died early on 6 May after the attack, which also left one of her three daughters with minor injuries. |
| John McFarlane, 40, had earlier admitted murder and was given a 20-year minimum term at the Old Bailey. | John McFarlane, 40, had earlier admitted murder and was given a 20-year minimum term at the Old Bailey. |
| He had stalked his victim after she rejected his advances, the court heard. | He had stalked his victim after she rejected his advances, the court heard. |
| The Independent Police Complaints Commission is investigating the case. | The Independent Police Complaints Commission is investigating the case. |
| Rejected advances | Rejected advances |
| Sentencing, Mr Justice Bean told McFarlane: "Three generations of Mary Griffiths's family have suffered a tragic and devastating loss. | Sentencing, Mr Justice Bean told McFarlane: "Three generations of Mary Griffiths's family have suffered a tragic and devastating loss. |
| "Her children have been deprived of a loving and caring mother. | |
| "Her parents have had to endure the appalling experience of attending the funeral of their own daughter." | "Her parents have had to endure the appalling experience of attending the funeral of their own daughter." |
| Ms Griffiths had called police just hours earlier to voice her fears that McFarlane was stalking her after she rejected his advances. | Ms Griffiths had called police just hours earlier to voice her fears that McFarlane was stalking her after she rejected his advances. |
| The fitness instructor's funeral was held in Suffolk | The fitness instructor's funeral was held in Suffolk |
| McFarlane, who worked as a slaughterman at the Denham estate nearby, took revenge after she posted a Facebook message saying he was "delusional" if he thought they would ever have a relationship. | McFarlane, who worked as a slaughterman at the Denham estate nearby, took revenge after she posted a Facebook message saying he was "delusional" if he thought they would ever have a relationship. |
| In May last year he smashed through the back door of her home with an axe as she and her three daughters slept. | |
| He shut down the house lights before charging up the stairs and, just as she turned on the bedroom lamp, burst in. | He shut down the house lights before charging up the stairs and, just as she turned on the bedroom lamp, burst in. |
| McFarlane dragged Ms Griffiths from the room, where she had been sleeping with her 10-year-old daughter, and beat her. | McFarlane dragged Ms Griffiths from the room, where she had been sleeping with her 10-year-old daughter, and beat her. |
| The mother screamed for help as she was attacked and managed to get outside where her 13-year-old girl shouted "don't do it, stop it," as McFarlane shot her. | The mother screamed for help as she was attacked and managed to get outside where her 13-year-old girl shouted "don't do it, stop it," as McFarlane shot her. |
| Mental health inquiry | |
| She was shot twice in the chest and once in the left shoulder, with a bolt gun normally used for stunning livestock. | She was shot twice in the chest and once in the left shoulder, with a bolt gun normally used for stunning livestock. |
| The killer was found later lying in a back garden having cut his arms in an apparent suicide attempt. | The killer was found later lying in a back garden having cut his arms in an apparent suicide attempt. |
| Following the plea he again tried to take his own life and remains on 24-hour suicide watch, the court was told. | |
| The BBC revealed in May last year that Ms Griffith's killer had been considered for sectioning by West Suffolk Hospital prior to the murder. | |
| The Suffolk Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust is investigating the case. | |
| This week a trust spokesman said the trust had now been given permission by police to talk to staff about any contact with McFarlane prior to the death. |