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Man, 24, guilty of vicar killing Man, 24, guilty of vicar killing
(10 minutes later)
A 24-year-old man has pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of a vicar on the grounds of diminished responsibility. A 24-year-old man has been detained indefinitely after pleading guilty to the manslaughter of a vicar on the grounds of diminished responsibility.
Geraint Evans of Trecynon, near Aberdare, repeatedly stabbed Father Paul Bennett on 14 March in the grounds of St Fagan's Church, Trecynon.Geraint Evans of Trecynon, near Aberdare, repeatedly stabbed Father Paul Bennett on 14 March in the grounds of St Fagan's Church, Trecynon.
Father Bennett, 59, a married father of two, was attacked yards from the Trecynon church in front of his wife.Father Bennett, 59, a married father of two, was attacked yards from the Trecynon church in front of his wife.
Evans had previous pleaded not guilty to murder. His plea was accepted by the prosecution at Cardiff Crown Court. The Judge His Honour Nicholas Cooke QC said he was guilty of inhuman savagery.
John Jenkins QC, prosecuting, told the court that Father Bennett was attacked within two minutes of stepping outside to put the rubbish out.John Jenkins QC, prosecuting, told the court that Father Bennett was attacked within two minutes of stepping outside to put the rubbish out.
"It is apparent he immediately ran away from the direction of the front door in the direction of the gate that leads to the churchyard," he said."It is apparent he immediately ran away from the direction of the front door in the direction of the gate that leads to the churchyard," he said.
Father Paul Bennett had been a vicar for 22 years, five in AberdareFather Paul Bennett had been a vicar for 22 years, five in Aberdare
"He probably did that to protect his family. His son Nigel, who was in the living room, saw his father running that way with the defendant in pursuit."He probably did that to protect his family. His son Nigel, who was in the living room, saw his father running that way with the defendant in pursuit.
"The defendant stabbed him in the back while he was trying to run away. He had six stab wounds in his back.""The defendant stabbed him in the back while he was trying to run away. He had six stab wounds in his back."
Hearing screams, Father Bennett's wife, Georgina, went outside to see her husband on his back with Evans on top of him stabbing him.Hearing screams, Father Bennett's wife, Georgina, went outside to see her husband on his back with Evans on top of him stabbing him.
As she tried to pull him off, Evans stabbed the vicar forcibly through the heart.As she tried to pull him off, Evans stabbed the vicar forcibly through the heart.
The court heard that she then went back inside to dial 999 and Evans sat on a bench.The court heard that she then went back inside to dial 999 and Evans sat on a bench.
Mr Jenkins said that when she came back out of the house with a kitchen knife, Evans told her to go back inside as he did not want to hurt her or her son.Mr Jenkins said that when she came back out of the house with a kitchen knife, Evans told her to go back inside as he did not want to hurt her or her son.
"I've done what I had to do," he told her."I've done what I had to do," he told her.
'I stabbed him through the heart, I stabbed him through the eye' Evans talking to Father Bennett's wife'I stabbed him through the heart, I stabbed him through the eye' Evans talking to Father Bennett's wife
The hearing was told that Evans then scattered 10 CDs on the driveway, saying: "It's on there, he wouldn't listen, it's all on the tapes."The hearing was told that Evans then scattered 10 CDs on the driveway, saying: "It's on there, he wouldn't listen, it's all on the tapes."
He then started swearing and speaking of God and the devil saying to Mrs Bennett that he had spoken to her husband previously.He then started swearing and speaking of God and the devil saying to Mrs Bennett that he had spoken to her husband previously.
'Jack Blade''Jack Blade'
"He also spoke to her of the attack, saying, 'I stabbed him through the heart, I stabbed him through the eye'," the prosecution continued."He also spoke to her of the attack, saying, 'I stabbed him through the heart, I stabbed him through the eye'," the prosecution continued.
"In a gloating voice, he said 'You have to forgive me now'.""In a gloating voice, he said 'You have to forgive me now'."
When police arrived at the scene at 1450 GMT on 14 March, Evans was sat calmly on a gravestone and Father Bennett was dead. When police arrived at the scene at 1450 GMT on 14 March, Evans was calmly sat on a gravestone and Father Bennett was dead.
Evans was initially charged with murder but his plea of manslaughter was accepted after three doctors presented reports to the court saying Evans was a deluded paranoid schizophrenic. Evans was initially charged with murder but his plea of manslaughter was accepted after three doctors presented reports to the court confirming that Evans was a deluded paranoid schizophrenic.
Evans called at Father Bennett's house in the church groundsEvans called at Father Bennett's house in the church grounds
The court heard that Evans was obsessed with God and the devil and fixated with religion and knives. The court heard that he was obsessed with God and the devil and fixated with religion and knives.
As well as regularly smoking cannabis, he inhaled lighter fluid on a daily basis and was a subscriber and contributor to satanic websites using the pseudonym Jack Blade. As well as regularly smoking cannabis, Evans inhaled lighter fluid on a daily basis and was a subscriber and contributor to satanic websites using the pseudonym Jack Blade.
The court also heard that Evans had been in and out of care and had been in a young offenders institute, but had not been through the mental health system. Evans had been in and out of care and had been in a young offenders institute, but had not been through the mental health system, the hearing was told.
It is still unclear why Evans targeted Father Bennett. After his arrest, he made it clear to police that he had been obsessed with killing the vicar for some time although it is unclear why. Father Bennett's family believe the two had never previously met.
After his arrest, he made it clear to officers that he had obsessed with killing the vicar for some time. However, Father Bennett's family say the two had never previously met. At the time Evans was living in his mother's flat which overlooks the vicarage where Father Bennett , who was profoundly deaf, lived with his family.
Evans was living in a flat close to the vicarage where Father Bennett, who was profoundly deaf, lived with his wife, children and grandson. A popular vicar, who had three churches under his stewardship, he was described as being at the "very centre of his community".
A popular vicar, who had three churches under this stewardship, he was described as being at the "very centre of his community".
During his funeral in April, assistant bishop of Llandaff, the Right Reverend David Yeoman, described Father Bennett as relaxed and often humorous person and a "committed and dedicated priest".During his funeral in April, assistant bishop of Llandaff, the Right Reverend David Yeoman, described Father Bennett as relaxed and often humorous person and a "committed and dedicated priest".