Jury sent out in murder trial (From Worcester News)

Jury sent out in murder trial

3:46pm Wednesday 31st October 2012 in News By Elizabeth Sweetman, @lizsweetmanWN #worcsnews

Jurors in the trial of a homeless man accused of murdering Bewdley pensioner Betty Yates and a Gloucestershire vicar have been sent out to start their deliberations.

Stephen Farrow, 48, denies murdering Mrs Yates at her cottage between January 1 and 5 this year.

He admits the manslaughter of Rev John Suddards but denies murdering the clergyman between February 12 and 15 on the grounds of diminished responsibility.

Both victims were found stabbed in their homes.

Farrow, of no fixed address, admits the separate charge of burgling Vine Cottage in Thornbury, South Gloucestershire, between December 21 last year and January 3 this year.

The three charges span a period of eight weeks, from December 21 to February 15, with "distinct" links between them, the jury were told.

Mr Justice Field, who has overseen the four-week trial at Bristol Crown Court, ordered the jury of eight men and four woman to consider their verdicts.