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| Stalker in bolt gun murder jailed | Stalker in bolt gun murder jailed |
| (about 1 hour 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, who had admitted murder, was told by the Old Bailey judge he would serve at least 20 years. | John McFarlane, 40, who had admitted murder, was told by the Old Bailey judge he would serve at least 20 years. |
| 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 (IPCC), which is investigating the case, said after the sentencing: "This deeply shocking murder demands answers and we are working hard to provide them to Mary's family." | The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC), which is investigating the case, said after the sentencing: "This deeply shocking murder demands answers and we are working hard to provide them to Mary's family." |
| 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 children have been deprived of a loving and caring mother." |
| Outside court, the victim's sister Louise Scannell, flanked by family members, wept as she described her as a "beloved angel" and McFarlane as the "devil incarnate". | Outside court, the victim's sister Louise Scannell, flanked by family members, wept as she described her as a "beloved angel" and McFarlane as the "devil incarnate". |
| Mary Griffiths was shot in front of her daughters class="" href="/2/hi/uk_news/8359539.stm">CPS and police reaction | |
| "Mary was the most beautiful person I have ever known," she said. | "Mary was the most beautiful person I have ever known," she said. |
| Ms Griffiths had called police just hours earlier to voice fears that McFarlane was stalking her after she rejected his advances. | Ms Griffiths had called police just hours earlier to voice fears that McFarlane was stalking her after she rejected his advances. |
| McFarlane, who worked as a slaughterman at the Denham estate nearby, took revenge after the fitness instructor 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 the fitness instructor 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. | 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. |
| Mental health inquiry | |
| 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. |
| Louise Ryan, Mary's sister: John McFarlane is "the devil incarnate" | |
| 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. | Following the plea he again tried to take his own life and remains on 24-hour suicide watch, the court was told. |
| Det Ch Insp Rick Munns, of Suffolk Police, said: "It is difficult to imagine a more traumatic and tragic case." | |
| Mike Crimp, of Suffolk CPS, said: "We don't know, and we may never know, what drove McFarlane to commit such an act but his guilty plea demonstrates that he knew what he was doing at the time." | |
| In May the BBC revealed that Ms Griffith's killer had been considered for sectioning by West Suffolk Hospital prior to the murder. | In May the BBC revealed 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 also investigating the case. | The Suffolk Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust is also investigating the case. |
| This week a spokesman said the trust had now been given permission by police to talk to staff about any contact with McFarlane prior to the death. | This week a spokesman said the trust had now been given permission by police to talk to staff about any contact with McFarlane prior to the death. |