The wife of a church organist beaten to death in Sheffield on Christmas Eve hasn't read a letter from the man who admitted his murder. Jonathan Bowling, 22, of Carwood Way, Pitsmoor, has been jailed for life for beating Alan Greaves, 68, to death with a pick-axe handle as he walked to Midnight Mass at St Saviour's Church in High Green. Another man, Ashley Foster, also 22, of Wesley Road, High Green, who had denied murder, was jailed for nine years for manslaughter. Bowling wrote to his victim's widow Maureen but she's asked a police officer to keep it.
Speaking outside court today she said: "I've decided not to read the letter; I've given it to Mr Fenwick [Detective Superintendent Matt Fenwick] to hold on my behalf just in case the day comes when I do want to read it. "To put it into my hands on the day that he was going to get sentenced; I didn't think it was appropriate." Mrs Greaves is a Church Army Evangelist at St Saviour's and has worked for the Church Army since 2008.
Church Army Chief Executive, Mark Russell, tells Premier's Des Busteed why she's decided not to open the letter:
Bowling, who has a long history of violent offending, was told by a judge at Sheffield Crown Court he would serve a minimum of 25 years in prison.
Sentencing Bowling and Foster, Mr Justice Teare told them:
"Why you wished to inflict violence on another human being on Christmas Eve is known only to you."
The family has been supported throughout the trial by the vicar at St Saviour's, Canon Simon Bessant. He told Premier's Des Busteed how her faith has helped Maureen and her family through the tragedy:
Bowling had already pleaded guilty to murder but Foster was convicted of manslaughter on Thursday after denying murder. He was found guilty after jurors came to a majority decision of 11 to one at Sheffield Crown Court. Mrs Greaves was in court for the verdict and was said to be in tears when the jurors returned their decision.
Reading a statement outside the court she said:
"Alan was a man who was driven by love and compassion and he wouldn't want any of us to hold onto feelings of hate and unforgiveness.
"So in honour of Alan and the God we both love, my prayer is that this story doesn't end today.
"My prayer is that Jonathan Bowling and Ashley Foster will come to understand and experience the love and kindness of the God who made them in His own image and that God's great mercy will inspire both of them to true repentance."
Mrs Greaves had previously spoken about how she's managed to forgive Alan's killers.
At his funeral she said:
"On that Christmas Day when I sat beside Alan's bruised and battered body, it was only natural that my thoughts would turn to the men who had so cruelly and brutally attacked him.
"But even on that day I heard Alan saying, 'Maureen, don't give yourself permission', so I was determined to turn aside from hatred, vengeance, unforgiveness and retaliation towards those who had killed him."
Det Supt Matt Fenwick, who led the investigation, said:
"Alan Greaves suffered an appalling, extremely violent and totally unprovoked attack as he walked to church.
"In a matter of minutes, Jonathan Bowling and Ashley Foster had left an innocent man for dead."
The three-and-half week trial heard how retired social worker, grandfather and lay preacher, Mr Greaves suffered horrendous head injuries during the attack and died in hospital three days later with his family around him.