This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2013/jun/26/court-church-organist-christmas-eve
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Court hears two men battered church organist to death on Christmas Eve | Court hears two men battered church organist to death on Christmas Eve |
| (about 9 hours later) | |
| A church organist was battered to death with a pick-axe handle and another weapon by two men who were spotted laughing after they set upon him on Christmas Eve, prosecutors said. | A church organist was battered to death with a pick-axe handle and another weapon by two men who were spotted laughing after they set upon him on Christmas Eve, prosecutors said. |
| Alan Greaves, 68, was attacked as he walked to St Saviour's church in High Green, Sheffield, for midnight mass on 24 December. | Alan Greaves, 68, was attacked as he walked to St Saviour's church in High Green, Sheffield, for midnight mass on 24 December. |
| Greaves died from severe head injuries in hospital three days later. | Greaves died from severe head injuries in hospital three days later. |
| Opening the prosecution case at Sheffield crown court on Wednesday, Robert Smith QC told the jury that Greaves had been attacked by Jonathan Bowling and Ashley Foster as he walked to the service to play the organ – something he had done for 40 years. | Opening the prosecution case at Sheffield crown court on Wednesday, Robert Smith QC told the jury that Greaves had been attacked by Jonathan Bowling and Ashley Foster as he walked to the service to play the organ – something he had done for 40 years. |
| Smith said Bowling and Foster had been spotted shortly afterwards, laughing in a park. | Smith said Bowling and Foster had been spotted shortly afterwards, laughing in a park. |
| The prosecutor said a pick-axe handle was used along with another unidentified weapon to inflict "grave and catastrophic" head injuries. | The prosecutor said a pick-axe handle was used along with another unidentified weapon to inflict "grave and catastrophic" head injuries. |
| Foster, 22, of Carwood Way, Pitsmoor, Sheffield, denies one count of murder. | Foster, 22, of Carwood Way, Pitsmoor, Sheffield, denies one count of murder. |
| As his trial began, he sat in the dock with a security guard and an intermediary, wearing a blue jumper over an open-necked blue shirt and black trousers. | As his trial began, he sat in the dock with a security guard and an intermediary, wearing a blue jumper over an open-necked blue shirt and black trousers. |
| The jury was told that Bowling, also 22, of Wesley Road, High Green, has already admitted murdering Greaves. | The jury was told that Bowling, also 22, of Wesley Road, High Green, has already admitted murdering Greaves. |
| Smith said nothing had been taken from Greaves and robbery did not appear to be the motive for the attack. | Smith said nothing had been taken from Greaves and robbery did not appear to be the motive for the attack. |
| He said Bowling and Foster were close, like brothers. Before the attack they had been at a house in High Green, drinking lager and Bacardi and Coke. | He said Bowling and Foster were close, like brothers. Before the attack they had been at a house in High Green, drinking lager and Bacardi and Coke. |
| The jury was told about the extensive injuries Greaves suffered. A postmortem showed he had been hit at least three times. | The jury was told about the extensive injuries Greaves suffered. A postmortem showed he had been hit at least three times. |
| Smith said part of his head was hit so hard that the bones splintered into a number of pieces, one of which was found at the scene of the attack. | Smith said part of his head was hit so hard that the bones splintered into a number of pieces, one of which was found at the scene of the attack. |
| A pick-axe was found at Bowling's sister's home and a fragment of wood found embedded in Greaves's injuries had been matched to this weapon, said Smith. | A pick-axe was found at Bowling's sister's home and a fragment of wood found embedded in Greaves's injuries had been matched to this weapon, said Smith. |
| But the prosecutor said scientific analysis of the pensioner's damaged hat showed that a second weapon must have been used in the assault. | But the prosecutor said scientific analysis of the pensioner's damaged hat showed that a second weapon must have been used in the assault. |