Drifter’s ‘no comment’ to murder questions (From Worcester News)

Drifter’s ‘no comment’ to murder questions

2:42pm Thursday 18th October 2012 in News

A HOMELESS man accused of murdering Bewdley pensioner Betty Yates and a Gloucestershire vicar refused to answer any questions following his arrest, a court has heard.

Stephen Farrow, aged 48, answered “no comment” to every question he was asked by detectives during three days of interviews.

He is on trial at Bristol Crown Court charged with murdering 77-year-old Mrs Yates at her cottage Riverscroft, and the Reverend John Suddards, 59, at his vicarage in Thornbury.

A nationwide manhunt was launched for Farrow after the body of Mr Suddards was found on February 14 this year at St Mary’s vicarage.

The drifter was arrested five days later at a house in Folkestone, Kent, on suspicion of murdering Mr Suddards.

Farrow was later that day arrested on suspicion of murdering Mrs Yates in January and of committing a separate burglary at Vine Cottage, Thornbury, over the Christmas and new year period.

He was taken back to Bristol to be interviewed by detectives and was first interviewed on February 20 at Trinity Road police station and again on the next two days.

Detective Constable Wayne Sumsion said: “Stephen Farrow was told he was forensically linked to Vine Cottage, Riverscroft and Thornbury vicarage.

“Thereafter Stephen Farrow answered ‘no comment’ to every question he was asked.” Farrow, of no fixed address, was again not present in court having refused to leave Long Lartin prison, near Evesham, where he is being held.

He denies two counts of murder but has admitted Mr Suddards’s manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility.

Farrow has also pleaded guilty to a burglary of Vine Cottage where a note was left threatening to kill “Christian scum”.

Michael Fitton QC, prosecuting, formally closed the Crown’s case after DC Sumsion had finished giving his evidence.

Mr Justice Field adjourned the trial until Monday.